Pimentel: PDP-Laban campaign rallies not only sing and dance

President Duterte, the ruling PDP-Laban party national chair, and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the party’s campaign manager, introduce the administration’s candidates in the midterm polls in May during the kickoff rally at City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, (from left) Sen. Sonny Angara, Sen. JV Ejercito, Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, former Bureau of Corrections Director General Ronald dela Rosa, former presidential aide Bong Go, Sen. Koko Pimentel, Francis Tolentino, Sen. Cynthia Villar, Rep. Pia Cayetano and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos. Also endorsed by the President but not in photo is singer Freddie Aguilar. —JOAN BONDOC/FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — It’s not just entertainment, reelectionist Senator Aquilino Pimentel III said Monday as he defended the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) campaign rallies.

Pimentel, who is the president of PDP-Laban, explained he delivers 20-minute speeches tackling relevant issues of the country as well as the policies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Uy hindi ah,” Pimentel answered in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel when told that the campaign rallies of PDP-Laban are criticized for containing only song and dance performances.

“I also sing. I sing with my wife a love song but after my 20-minute speech, explaining bakit hindi napako ang mga pangako ni President Duterte, ano ang mga problema ng ating mga bansa, ano ang mga possible solutions,” Pimentel added.

He explained that the entertainment portions of their campaigns are only to give their audience “a break” from long speeches.

“So mahaba-habang explanation na po ‘yun so kailangan lang natin, binibigyan din natin ng kaunting break kasi yung attention span din po ng tao,” Pimentel said.

The five-man senatorial slate of the PDP-Laban include Pimentel, Dong Mangudadatu, former chief of police Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, former presidential aide Bong Go, and former presidential adviser Francis Tolentino.

Pimentel noted that aside from the slate’s own campaign sorties, they are sometimes guests at the rallies of the Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP). /je