MANILA, Philippines – Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Tuesday affirmed President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of his Senate bid.
In a photo shared by Pimentel with reporters, Duterte can be seen raising the hand of the lawmaker while extending a fist bump, a signature pose of the President’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party.
Photo shared by Sen. Koko Pimentel shows President Duterte raising the lawmaker’s hand and posing with the signature fist bump. Pimentel said the President is endorsing his Senate reelection bid.
Pimentel is PDP-Laban president while Duterte is the party’s chairman.
“Hindi pa ba ito endorsement?” he wrote to accompany the photo.
Duterte, in the past, has made public his endorsements for 11 senatorial candidates – four of the five PDP-Laban bets and seven others.
The President has openly endorsed the candidacy of former special assistant to the president Bong Go, former national police chief Ronald dela Rosa, former political adviser Francis Tolentino and Maguindanao Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu from PDP-Laban.
READ: Palace defends Duterte’s Senate slate
He also endorsed reelectionist Senators Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito and Sonny Angara, former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Pia Cayetano, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and singer Freddie Aguilar.
Earlier, presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago party (HNP) kicked-off its three-month long campaign period on Tuesday in Pampanga which included majority of the President’s endorsed candidates.
READ: Sara Duterte’s ‘Hugpong’ kicks off campaign in Pampanga
Pimentel, however, was a no-show the first part of the event in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga.
His wife Kathrina Yu-Pimentel address the crowd instead.
He skipped the said event because he was at the television show hosted by broadcast journalist Rey Langit.
Pimentel attended HNP’s event in Angeles City in the afternoon. /gsg
READ: Koko Pimentel skips first Hugpong’s campaign rally