Ex-DILG chief Alunan runs for senator

MANILA, Philippines – Saying his “heart” prodded him to break his 20-year absence from public service, former interior secretary Rafael Alunan III joined the senatorial race on Friday, October 16.

After filing his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros, Manila, Alunan told reporters that until that morning, he thought he had abandoned his political plan. He even posted on his Facebook page the previous night that he was not running.

“This morning, when I woke up, medyo mabigat ang aking puso (my heart was kind of heavy) and I decided that my heart will speak for me instead of my mind. I decided to run for the Senate and return to public life,” he said.

Alunan is running under Bagumbayan with former senator Richard Gordon, a fellow senatorial aspirant.

Alunan served the Ramos administration first, as tourism secretary, and later, as interior chief.

“I love my country. I love the Filipino people and I am here to serve them. If they want me, they can have me. If they don’t want me, then they can leave me,” he said.

Alunan is hopeful that voters would support his bid to put together a program of action that would “fix things in the Philippines.”

“My job is to fix things, my job is to defend the country, my job is to protect the people and win the future,” Alunan said.

The former Cabinet official has been vocal against China’s “bullying” of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). He is one of the leaders of the West Philippine Sea Coalition, which has led protest actions against the economic giant. (READ: Filipinos tell China: Bad feng shui to take what is not yours) – Rappler.com