Administration-backed Senate candidates, including Sen. Koko Pimentel and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos share the stage during a campaign sortie in Bulacan. Pimentel’s father, former Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. was a staunch critic of the Marcos administration in the 70s and 80s. Photo by Cathrine Gonzales. INQUIRER.net
SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, Philippines – Reelectionist Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, whose father and namesake fought the Marcos dictatorship, on Thursday shared the stage with the late president’s daughter, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos during the PDP-Laban’s campaign kickoff event here.
Pimentel and Marcos are both included in Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) Senate slate.
They are also included in President Rodrigo Duterte’s preferred senatorial candidates for the May midterm elections.
Earlier, Pimentel said he is open to running on the same slate with Marcos, as long as it is not under the PDP-Laban banner.
Aside from Pimentel, the ruling party’s five-man senate slate includes former presidential aide Bong Go, former national police chief Ronald Dela Rosa, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino and Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu.
Gov. Marcos, however, is listed as a guest candidate of PDP-Laban. / gsg