Sonny Matula meets Leni in Naga; Kiko gets Moro party's support

Labor leader and senatorial candidate Sonny Matula met former Vice President Leni Robredo over lunch on Friday at Robredo's residence in Naga City.

In a statement, Matula said he presented his labor agenda for the Senate to Robredo, who was especially concerned with regularizing job orders and contract-of-service workers in the city.

In 2022, Matula was one of Robredo's senatorial candidates when she ran for president. 

“Nag-lunch at nagka-kwentuhan kami tungkol sa agenda para sa manggagawa. Kung maging mayor ng Naga ay titingnan daw niya kung may sapat na pondo ang lokal na panahalaan upang mag-regular ng kawani,” Matula said. 

Matula said they agreed on mainstreaming issues of the sectors. 

“Ang mga isyu ng mga sektor sa laylayan ay dapat dalhin sa sentro ng diskurso," Matula said.

In Sultan Kudarat, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) endorsed former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s 2025 Senate comeback bid on Friday.

Thje UBJP is affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The endorsement was received by Pangilinan, who was accompanied by his wife and actress Sharon Cuneta in Camp Darapanan.

Also on Friday, Pangilinan got the endorsement of his former colleague, Senator Joel Villanueva.

“I’ve seen how he works. He’s very hardworking,” Villanueva said.

Pangilinan and Villanueva first worked together in the Aquino Cabinet where Pangilinan served as the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, while Villanueva headed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Aside from Villanueva, other Senators who have backed Pangilinan’s 2025 Senate bid include: Senate President Chiz Escudero as well as Senators Win Gatchalian and Risa Hontiveros.

“I thank my colleagues for their trust and support and we look forward to working with them again in the next Congress,” Pangilinan said. –NB, GMA Integrated News

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