Opposition coalition 1Sambayan formally endorsed former Makati congressman Monsour Del Rosario as their 11th senatorial candidate.
This was announced by 1Sambayan convenor and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Friday, April 8, during a press conference in Dagupan City, Pangasinan.
Del Rosario was included in the senatorial slate of presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson and vice presidential bet Senate President Vicente Sotto III but left after Lacson resigned from Partido Reporma last month.
The former lawmaker eventually shifted his support to presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo, adding that "her mission to reform and uplift the country aligns with my own plight to bring about real positive change in the lives of the ordinary Filipino."
Del Rosario is so far the only Reporma senatorial candidate to join former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Partido Reporma president, in shifting support to Robredo.
1Sambayan, which is supporting the candidacy of Robredo and runningmate Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, endorsed last month trade unionist Elmer "Ka Bong" Labog and reelectionist Senator Richard Gordon in its senatorial slate for the upcoming May 9 elections.
Other candidates under 1Sambayan's slate are reelectionist Senator Risa Hontiveros, detained Senator Leila de Lima, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, lawyer Alex Lacson, labor leader Sonny Matula, and former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares.