6 Duterte Cabinet men likely to run in 2019 polls

Six Cabinet members of the Duterte administration might run in next year’s midterm elections, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“Not just three, from my last count there will be around six (Cabinet members) who might file their Certificate of Candidacies for national and local posts,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Roque refused to name the six Cabinet members but nevertheless noted three of them were aiming for national posts while the other three would seek local positions.

When asked about his personal election bid, Roque – a former Kabayan party-list representative who is widely known to be eyeing a Senate seat in 2019 – said he would have to talk first to President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss his election plans. Comelec set the filing of candidacy for the 2019 midterm elections from October 11 to 17.

“I do not know, honestly. I need to talk to him (Duterte), he’s my appointing authority. However I decide, I need to talk to the President,” he pointed out.

Duterte has repeatedly endorsed Roque’s 2019 senatorial bid. In fact, the presidential mouthpiece has been included in the initial roster of senatorial candidates to be fielded by the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in next year’s polls.

Aside from Roque, Mr. Duterte’s trusted aide, Christopher “Bong” Go, and Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino are also rumored to be targeting a seat in the Senate. /kga