NPC to include Gringo, Zubiri, Gordon, Villanueva in Eleksyon 2022 senatorial slate — Sotto

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday bared the list of the Nationalist People’s Coalition’s possible senatorial line-up for Eleksyon 2022 which includes politicians from outside the party.

In a radio interview, Sotto, chairman of the NPC, said they will support their party mates who already plan to run for Senate in the upcoming polls. These are:

• Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda
• Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero
• Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
• Former Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito

Sotto also mentioned some allies outside the NPC that the NPC will possibly support namely:

• Information and Communications Secretary Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II
• Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri
• Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon
• Senator Joel Villanueva

Villanueva, Zubiri and Ejercito welcomed the NPC’s endorsement.

“Am so humbled and honored by the endorsement of [Senate President] Sotto and Sen Ping [Lacson]. Am sure it is not just because we have this special bonding, the three of us, as Andres Bonifacio club but because they have seen first hand our commitment and dedication when it comes to the work expected of a legislator," Villanueva said.

“We’ve been together for over five years in office, and since Day 1 of the 17th Congress, SP and Sen. Ping consistently walked their talk, a quality that inspires me personally. They are always in my prayers. I would like to thank SP Sotto and Sen. Ping - titans of the Senate - for their kind words,” he added.

Villanueva earlier announced that he will run for a reelection in the Senate but he said he is also open to running to other elective posts.

Zubiri, who also declared his bid for a Senate reelection but as an independent candidate, said he was honored to be part of Sotto’s endorsed candidates.

“Nakita naman po [ng] ating Mahal na SP kung gaano po kami magtrabaho sa Senado na nagingibabaw sa aming grupo ang kapakanan [ng] taumbayan bago partido o sarili. Malaking karangalan po sa akin na makakuha nang endorsement mula sa Nationalist Peoples Coalition bilang senator sa kanilang line-up. At pangako po namin sa taong bayan ay itutuloy po namin ang performance-based public service at hindi pamumulitika lamang,” he said.

(The Senate President saw how we worked in the Senate and we go beyond political parties or personal interests. It is a great honor for me to have the endorsement of the NPC and be a part of their senatorial line-up. We promise our countrymen that we will continue the performance-based public service and not politics-driven service.)

Although he has yet to decide on his 2022 elections plan, Ejercito extended his gratitude to Sotto for including him in the initial list of NPC’s senatorial slate.

“Though I still have to make a decision because of the complicated circumstance I am in again, I am very thankful nonetheless,” Ejercito said in a Viber message to reporters.

“It’s probably because we had a very good working relationship during the 17th Congress and probably my performance and unblemished track record was the main factor why I am being considered by SP Sotto and by President Duterte himself in his initial list,” he added.

Ejercito noted anew that running for the Senate with his half-brother, former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, is still a factor in deciding whether he will run in 2022 or not. — RSJ, GMA News