Duterte to endorse 12 senatorial bets on Thursday

Updated (8:37 p.m.)

LAUR, Nueva Ecija — President Rodrigo Duterte will endorse 12 senatorial candidates at the proclamation rally of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) in Bulacan on Thursday.

“Definitely, ‘yung limang PDP candidates, pupunta,” Former Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go told reporters at the sidelines of the inauguration of a drug and alcohol treatment facility here.

The five PDP-Laban candidates are Go, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, Maguindanao Rep. Sajjid Mangudadatu, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and former Philippine National Police Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Aside from this, Go said the President would also endorse seven “personal” choices: Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Sen. JV Ejercito, Sen. Sonny Angara, folk singer Freddie Aguilar, Jinggoy Estrada, Pia Cayetano, and Cynthia Villar.

Go said Duterte’s senatorial choices would be guest candidates of PDP-Laban but noted that this “has to be resolved first” because of some issues he did not elaborate.

But he was confident PDP-Laban would agree to adopt as guest candidates the senatorial hopefuls chosen by Duterte.

Duterte is the chairman of PDP-Laban.

Go said all of Duterte’s choices who were not part of PDP-Laban were invited to the proclamation rally in San Jose del Monte.

Sought for comment, Pimentel said the party would discuss it tomorrow (Thursday).

“We will discuss it tomorrow. Everybody is busy now,” he said in a text message.

Asked if he was amenable for Marcos to join the slate, he said, “We will support any party decision. Pursuant to party principles we will consult with each other,” he said. /ee