MANILA - Members of various groups, representatives of different sectors, and even old enemies are already in talks about forming a senatorial line-up for the 2019 mid-term polls, an opposition re-electionist senator said Thursday.

Senator Bam Aquino refused to name the people who may be included in the "genuine opposition" that will face the senatorial slate of the ruling party, PDP-Laban. But he said the public will certainly be surprised.

"Ayaw ko pong pangunahan pero magugulat ka kasi hindi ito ang tradisyunal na pangalan," the Liberal Party (LP) senator said.

"Ito po ay galing sa iba-ibang mga grupo, iba-ibang mga sektor, iba-iba pong mga... Kahit po masabi natin baka in the past nag aaway-away," he added.

Aquino underscored the importance a genuine opposition amid concerns over administration policies.

Meanwhile, several majority senators are also forming a team for the 2019 polls, calling themselves "The Force," composed of JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay and Grace Poe.

They have been in talks with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's regional political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

Aquino's name earlier surfaced in the line-up of "The Force." But he clarified that he is only joining "The Resistance," a call back to a movement against the ruling "First Order" in the "Star Wars" lore.