MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday added former senator Jinggoy Estrada to the list of his preferred senatorial candidates
Duterte made the announcement during the Peace and Order Summit for barangay officials in Legazpi City, Albay.
The President returned to the podium shortly after delivering his speech to campaign and endorse the senatorial bids of former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa and singer Freddie Aguilar.
Go, Dela Rosa and Tolentino are all running under Duterte’s PDP-Laban party while Aguilar is running as an independent candidate.
Duterte then summoned Estrada to the stage and raised his hand.
“Kandidato ko pati kay Inday. Magkaiba kami ng ticket. We are supporting (him), Duterte said before raising Estrada’s hand.
Estrada, who was implicated in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, is also among the 13 Senate candidates of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago party.
Earlier, the President said he would endorse the candidacy of re-electionist Senators Sonny Angara and Cynthia Villar, former Senator and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. / gsg
READ: Duterte names Senate bets to support outside PDP-Laban