SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday officially announced his 12-man senatorial lineup, composed of five candidates from his party, PDP-Laban, and seven other preferred candidates.
“Kapag natalo ‘tong mga kandidato ko dito ha, babalikan ko kayo (If my candidates lose here, I’ll get back at you),” Duterte said jest in his first appearance at a campaign sortie since the start of the campaign period.
Duterte’s candidates include PDP-Laban’s five-man slate, dubbed “MaBaGoKoTo” — former police chief Ronald dela Rosa, former presidential aide Bong Go, Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, Sen. Koko Pimentel, and former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino.
The others guest candidates who were chosen based on Duterte’s “personal choice” include folk singer Freddie Aguilar, re-electionist Senators Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, and Cynthia Villar and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, former senator Jinggoy Estrada and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.
All of Duterte’s preferred senatorial candidates are present in PDP-Laban’s initial campaign rally here in Bulacan, except Estrada, whom the President recently endorsed in a previous gathering.
President Rodrigo Duterte and PDP-Laban campaign manager Sen. Manny Pacquiao raise the hands of the ruling party’s five-man Senate slate during their kick-off campaign rally in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan on February 14, 2019. PHOTO by Cathrine Gonzales/INQUIRER.net.
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PDP-Laban campaign manager Senator Manny Pacquiao said that Duterte’s candidates will help the President fulfill his legislative agenda for the remainder of his term.
Up to 15,000 supporters gathered along Road 2 in Barangay Minuyan Proper in the city of San Jose del Monte to show their support for the ruling party.
San Jose del Monte is the bailiwick of Rep. Florida Robes and her husband, city mayor Arthur Robes, who are known supporters of Duterte.
In 2017, Rep. Robles filed a bill seeking to declare March 28, the President’s birthday, a special working holiday. /ee
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