Sotto lists “Tough Ten” Senate bets

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto has bared his “Tough Ten” senatorial bets in the May 2019 elections.

Sotto, acting chair of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), confirmed his “Tough Ten” list in a Viber message to reporters on Friday.

The list includes survey frontrunner Senator Grace Poe, and two NPC members – incumbent Senator JV Ejercito and returning Senator Lito Lapid.

Poe, an independent candidate, is also an adopted member of NPC.

Completing Sotto’s list are incumbent Senators Sonny Angara, Bam Aquino, Nancy Binay, Koko Pimentel, and Cynthia Villar; Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, and former presidential aide Christopher “Bong” Go.

Sotto said NPC, founded by business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, has yet to meet and agree on the official list of senatorial candidates they would support in the May 13 midterm polls.

“Pinag-iisipan pa nila. Ako din,” the Senate leader said when asked about the NPC meeting.

Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier revealed his own senatorial bets, which included the seven reelectionist senators – Poe, Ejercito, Angara, Binay, Pimentel, Villar, and Aquino.

READ: Lacson backs Duterte ‘punching bag,’ 9 other senatorial bets
/kga