MANILA – Former Senator Leila de Lima has expressed support for the senatorial bids of allies and former senators Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan and Bam Aquino.

De Lima was present, along with former Rep. Erin Tañada at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Tuesday, the same day Pangilinan filed his certificate of candidacy for Senator.

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"Yung mga katulad ni Senator Kiko [Pangilinan] at Senator Bam [Aquino] talagang karapat dapat ibalik sila sa Senado. Yung kalidad nila, yung karakter nila, yung sipag nila, yung kanilang track record hindi matatawaran," De Lima told reporters outside the filing venue.

"Ibalik natin sa Senado para mas makabuluhan ang pinaguusapan ngayon sa Senado. Mas makabuluhan din yung mga gagawin din na batas na makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan. Malaking bagay na yung mga katulad nila ibalik," she added. 

De Lima said they are entering the 2025 election season with more optimism, despite the results in the 2022 polls. 

"I think we are more prepared now. Mas ano po yung loob namin, mas malakas. Mas malakas ang paninindigan ng mga taga-LP [Liberal Party] ngayon, saka ng mga taga-opposition," she said. 

The former senator also filed a certificate of nomination and acceptance for the Mamamayang Liberal Party-list along with fellow nominees Tañada and Teddy Baguilat last Saturday.

Party-list supporters march to Manila Hotel as nominees file candidacies