PDP-Laban bets in 2019 polls will be federalism advocates

The candidates that the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) will field in the 2019 national and local elections must pursue the basic objectives of the party, particularly federalism.

“Our common bond, number one is you must be a party member. And you are a federalism advocate, you believe in federalism, among others,” said PDP-Laban party president Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, who, along with vice chair Al Cusi,  submitted on Thursday the party’s list of authorized signatories for the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) to the the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The CONA, which also serves as the party’s official endorsement, will be used by candidates during the filing this October of their respective Certificate of Candidacy (COCs) for the 2019 mid-term polls.

“In the rules and regulations of the Comelec, we need to file a list of people to issue CONA. We submitted more than a hundred names since our approach is on a per province basis and highly urbanized cities,” Pimentel said.

To date, he said they have nine senatorial bets in their line-up.

Apart from Pimentel, PDP-Laban’s confirmed bets include former PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Francis Tolentino, Press Secretary Harry Roque, Reps. Dax Cua, Monsour del Rosario, Dong Mangudadatu, and Carlo Nograles. /ee

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