MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte is free to invite his personal senatorial candidates to the PDP-Laban proclamation rally in Bulacan on Thursday afternoon, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said.
The PDP-Laban will hold its proclamation rally for its five senatorial candidates namely former Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” 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 in San Jose Del Monte town on Thursday.
But President Rodrigo Duterte, PDP-Laban chairman, has invited his personal senatorial bets to the proclamation rally.
They are Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Sen. JV Ejercito, Sen. Sonny Angara, folk singer Freddie Aguilar, Jinggoy Estrada, Pia Cayetano, and Cynthia Villar.
Duterte is free to do so said Pimentel who is PDP-Laban party president.
“We will follow what the President wants. Coz those are his other senatorial choices,” Pimentel told INQUIRER.net in a text message.
Go, Duterte’s trusted aide, said the President wanted his personal senatorial bets to be “guest candidates” of the ruling party.
READ: Duterte to endorse 12 senatorial bets on Thursday
But Pimentel said this has to be discussed first.
“Pag usapan pa yan pursuant to our core value of consultative democracy but he can invite them to our rally later if he wants to,” he said. /muf