Koko gives Duterte 24 names being eyed for PDP-Laban Senate slate

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III has submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte the names of 24 individuals the ruling PDP-Laban are considering to include in its 12-person senatorial slate for the May 2019 senatorial elections.

In a letter dated August 15, Pimentel asked Duterte's opinion on the line-up.

The senator said that he himself is one of the PDP-Laban members being considered, along with Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go; Secretary Francis Tolentino; Representative Karlo Alexei Nograles; Representative Zajid "Dong" Mangudadatu; Representative Geraldine Roman; Representative Monsour del Rosario; singer Freddie Aguilar; former news anchor Jiggy Manicad; Representative Alfredo "Albee" Benitez; and Representative Dakila Carlo "Dax" Cua.

He added that from outside the party, the party can recruit "friends" such as Duterte's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte; Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa; actor Robin Padilla; former Senator Lito Lapid; former Secretary Rafael Alunan; columnist Ramon Tulfo; presidential spokesperson Harry Roque; and Representative Pia Cayetano.

Pimentel also mentioned five re-electionist senators who belong to the majority coalition in the Senate “who are generally supportive of your administration”: Senators Cynthia Villar, Juan Edgardo Angara, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Grace Poe, and Nancy Binay.

“I hope that the party leadership can sit down with you, as the party chairman, at the earliest possible time so we can talk about party matters and prepare for the fast approaching May 2019 elections,” Pimentel said.

The senator admitted he has yet to personally talk with all the people on the list.

“Hindi [ko pa nakausap si Sara at iba pa] kasi nga they are outside the party. Sabi ko we can possibly recruit them. For example Dax Cua, I just included him because I believe that he should give it a try. If you research online he has not made any pronouncement na he is interested,” Pimentel told reporters.

He added he has suggested to the President that they do not limit their horizon to partymates and friends of the party and also consider the support given to the administration by the five reelectionist senators coming from the majority bloc.

He said among the criteria in choosing their bets are party membership, service to the party, willingness to run, name recall, and winnability.

“Like Robin Padilla, he can associate himself with the Bangsamoro issues and possibly Mindanao issues like federalism,” he said.

Pimentel said they wanted the President to choose the slate.

“We believe with the approval rating of Duterte, his endorsement can sway or bring to victory the candidacy of his candidates so it is important that he supports our senatorial candidates,” he said. —NB, GMA News