Pacquiao camp’s slate has ‘very winnable, popular’ senatorial bets — PDP-Laban exec

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from incumbent and returning senators, new names that are “very winnable” and “very popular” are among those being considered to be part of the senatorial slate of the PDP-Laban faction led by Senator Manny Pacquiao, an ally disclosed on Monday.

PDP-Laban Executive Director Ronwald Munsayac said their group has a “long list” of possible senatorial bets but they trimmed down it to less than 12 for now.

“Yung objective naman po talaga is always to fill up the senatorial slate na 12; pero sa ngayon po, less than 12 pa po ‘yung names na napaguusapan kasi kailangan po talaga yung senatorial slate namin ay akma, match po sila sa prinsipyo ng partido at akma din sila sa magigig plataporma ng magiging presidential candidate po namin,” Munsayac explained in an online interview.

(The objective has been to always to fill up the senatorial slate which is 12 but as of now, we are discussing less than 12 names because our senatorial slate should really match our principles as well as the platforms of our presidential candidate)

“Actually more than 12 po talaga yung pangalan. In fact, mayroong long list; talagang tini-trim lang po namin kasi kailangan po talaga komportable ‘yung partido sa kanila, pero may mga meetings na nangyayari, but I can confirm na meron po kaming long list po,” he stressed.

(Actually, we really have more than 12 names. In fact, we really have a long list and we are just trimming it down because the party should be comfortable with them, but there are ongoing meetings. But I can confirm that we have a long list.)

Munsayac refused to identify the names on the initial list of their possible senatorial bets, but said, “May mga incumbent senators, may mga returning senators may mga new names na very, very winnable and very, very popular.”

(There are incumbent senators, returning senators; there are new names that are very, very winnable and very, very popular)

However, the party will still give its standard-bearer the “power and flexibility” to choose his running mate and senatorial ticket, the party official said.

Munsayac also said he hopes they could endorse their senatorial bets when they hold the national assembly next month to elect new officers and proclaim their standard-bearer in the 2022 elections.

According to Munsayac, the common sentiment among party members is to throw their full support behind Pacquiao, who has yet to decide whether or not to run for the highest position in the land.

Pacquiao is currently undergoing quarantine in Pasay City after returning from his boxing match in the United States.

“I think this is the right time for him to contemplate, to pray, and to think kung ano po yung magiging decision niya, at kung ano man po ang magiging decision niya ay wholeheartedly suportado siya ng buong PDP- Laban,” Munsayac added.

(I think this is the right time for him to contemplate, pray, and think about his decision, and whatever that may be will be supported wholeheartedly by the entire PD-Laban)

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