None of the major political parties, as of Wednesday, appeared ready to present a full senatorial slate.
Most opted to focus their campaign chests on a handful of candidates — mostly reelectionists or returning senators, as well as a number of new faces.
Here’s the initial senatorial lineup of major political parties:
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan: Reeling from internal squabbling, the ruling PDP-Laban will field Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino.
Nacionalista Party: The NP has so far three candidates: Sen. Cynthia Villar, Deputy House Speaker Pia Cayetano, and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.
But the Villar-led party has allied itself with Hugpong ng Pagbabago, a regional party launched by Mr. Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Nationalist People’s Coalition: The country’s second largest party, the NPC has so far three candidates: Sen. Grace Poe, an independent adopted by the party; her colleague, JV Ejercito, the newest recruit of the party after jumping from the party of his father, former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada; and former Sen. Lito Lapid.
Opposition: The opposition coalition will be led by Sen. Bam Aquino of the Liberal Party; former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada of the LP; law dean Chel Diokno; Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano; Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc-Tomawis; and election lawyer Romulo Macalintal.
The coalition is composed of the LP, Magdalo and Akbayan party-list groups, Aksyon Demokratiko and Tindig Pilipinas.
Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino: The LDP has one candidate, reelectionist Sen. Sonny Angara.
United Nationalist Alliance: UNA will field another reelectionist, Sen. Nancy Binay, and lawyer Dan Roleda.
Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats: The former party of Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will field former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Dr. Willie Ong.
Mayor Duterte’s Hugpong has “endorsed” several candidates gunning for the Senate, among them Villar, Cayetano, Marcos, Ejercito, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu and Bureau of Corrections Director Ronald dela Rosa. —Reports from DJ Yap and Melvin Gascon