Koko urges Sara to run for senator

Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III (left) is urging Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (right) to run for the Senate in 2019 to bolster Mindanao’s representation in the upper chamber. INQUIRER FILES

Now that federalism is on “an uphill climb,” Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is urging Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for the Senate in 2019.

If Duterte-Carpio wins in the senatorial race, Mindanao would gain “greater representation in the chamber, Pimentel said Thursday.

Pimentel believes the President’s daughter in the Senate would give Mindanao a bigger voice and influence on certain key national issues, including the national budget.

“Her experience as mayor of one of the country’s highly successful cities eminently qualifies her to speak for Mindanao, for peace and order, for the environment, and for the socio-economic upliftment of the marginalized sectors,” Pimentel said in a statement.

At present, there are only three senators from Mindanao: Pimentel, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Manny Pacquiao.

Pimentel explained that if the proposed federal system of government would be adopted, the Senate would be composed of senators from the regions.

But without Federalism, the senators will continue to be elected nationwide, the senator said.

The President’s daughter has repeatedly said that she would not run for the Senate in 2019. /cbb

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