President Rodrigo Duterte’s trusted aide, Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, Cabinet Secretaries and a special envoy are among the officials eyeing to run for national and local posts in the 2019 midterm elections, INQUIRER.net has learned.
A source said Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Uson, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio “Jun” Evasco, Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, Bureau of Corrections Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Tesda Chief Guiling Mamondiong and Special Envoy to Kuwait Abdullah Mama-o would possibly run for next year’s election.
The source was privy to the information but requested not to be named for lack of authority to speak on the matter.
Duterte has favored the possible senatorial run of Roque, Go, and Tolentino but the three have yet to announce their plans a week before the filing of certificate of candidacy.
“There is no decision yet because I have to talk to the President,” Roque said when sought for comment.
Go said his decision to run would be up to the President.
On September 19, during a speech in Malacañang, Duterte urged the public to vote for Tolentino as senator in 2019. But Tolentino has yet to make public announcements about his election plans.
After she announced her resignation at a Senate budget hearing on Wednesday, Uson said that she was open to run for Congress in 2019. However, she has yet to make a final decision.
De Rosa confirmed after a flag-raising ceremony at the New Bilibid Prison in September 3 the he would run for the Senate.
Asked to confirm, Evasco neither confirmed nor deny this in a text message to INQUIRER.net.
“Thanks for the inquiry. Certainly you will get to know if I’m running or not after the deadline to file the COC. Salamat,” he said.
Mamondiong and Mamao have yet to announce their political plans.
INQUIRER.net has sought comments from the officials but some have yet to reply as of posting.
Andanar told INQUIRER.net on Wednesday that seven to eight Cabinet members might run in 2019 but refused to disclose their names.
“Possible’ na 7-8 ang tatakbo sa 2019. Let’s see if it reaches that number on the last day of the filing of CoCs (Certificate of Candidacies),” Andanar told INQUIRER.net in a text message. /cbb /with a report from Darryl John Esguerra
READ: 7 to 8 Cabinet men to run in 2019 – Andanar