Duterte aide, spokesman among “very possible” senatorial candidates: Pimentel

September 1, 2018

President Rodrigo Duterte's special assistant, his spokesman and the head of a House committee pushing the tax reform package are among the initial eight candidates for the Senate under the PDP Laban party during the 2019 mid-term elections

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, president of PDP Laban said Saturday the eight candidates were introduced during the leadership assembly of the party held last Friday night at the GSIS Financial Center in Pasay City.

They are Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, presidential adviser on political affairs Francis Tolentino, Pimentel, Makati City Rep. Monsour del Rosario, Quirino Rep. Dakila Cua, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.

Cua, chairman of the House committee of ways and means, spearheaded the approval of the first tax reform package and is pushing for the passage of the second package.

Pimentel said they were “very possible” party senatorial candidates.

Last month, Pimentel said there were 19 names being considered by PDP Laban for its senatorial slate, excluding five senators, allied with the administration, who are all eligible for re-election. The five senators who are seeking re-election are Joseph Victor Ejercito, Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara and Nancy Binay.

The initial list of the potential candidates include Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, singer Freddie Aguilar, and former broadcast journalist Jiggy Manicad, all of who are members of PDP Laban.

There are also the “friends of the party” led by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa, actor Robin Padilla, former Senator Lito Lapid, former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan, columnist Ramon Tulfo, and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano.

The list was submitted by Pimentel to President Rodrigo Duterte, who serves as chairman of the party, in a letter where he sought for guidance in finalizing the party’s slate.

Duterte attended the leadership meeting, where Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, who serves as the party secretary general, and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who is vice chairman, were also in attendance.

Pimentel reiterated the party’s request for Duterte’s guidance in finalizing the party’s senatorial slate.

He said the President “will support our candidates for as long as: honest, principled (including party principles), service-oriented, competent.” DMS