Geraldine Roman on running for Senate: Only time can tell

MANILA, Philippines — Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman was among the possible senatorial bets of the ruling PDP-Laban listed by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez but the neophyte lawmaker is yet to confirm her plans for the 2019 midterm elections.

Roman, the first transgender legislator in the Philippine Congress, admitted that Alvarez had informed her before making an announcement of the ruling party's prospective senatorial candidates.

"I feel honored that I should be considered by the Speaker considering I'm just a neophyte but only time could tell," Roman told ANC's Headstart.

The Bataan lawmaker said that she owes herself to the people of the first district of Bataan and that she still has plans for her district.

Alvarez had advised her not to close herself to the possibility of running for a Senate post and urged her to study the vision of PDP-Laban.

"Sumasama ako doon sa mga basic membership seminars ng PDP Laban... We talk about federalism and what PDP-Laban stands for," Roman said.

Roman joined the ruling party in May this year, exactly a year after her victory in the previous election. She ran under the Liberal Party during the 2016 elections.

Asked whether she thinks that the Filipino people are ready for a transgender senator, Roman said that Filipinos have a "soft spot for people who are normally discriminated against."

"The first district of Bataan didn’t mind having me as their congresswoman. I mean, what has gender got to do with one’s ability to serve the country," she said.

Aside from Roman, PCOO Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Rep. Karlo Nograles (Davao City), Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Negros Occidental) and former MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino are also being considered as possible candidates for the Senate.

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