Aquino names 4 likely senatorial candidates

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon and former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros. INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday night disclosed the names of four people he said were certain to be included on the administration’s senatorial ticket in 2013.

These are Customs Commissioner Rozzano Rufino Biazon, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority head Joel Villanueva, Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo Angara and former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros.

“We have four candidates already that have been decided,” President Aquino said in an open forum at a gathering of Wharton alumni in Makati City.

“There are, as you know… a lot more applicants than slots. There are at least 24, probably 32 that are applying for the 12 slots,” the President  said. “We have Ruffy Biazon; we have Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel; we have Joel Villanueva; and Sonny Angara also,” he said.

“Then there are others. But I think we have talks ongoing with various coalition partners and it’ll be too premature to tell you all of the other candidates. And it will be unfair for those who have or are applying but might not be accepted to announce their names at this time.”

Of the four Aquino mentioned, only Biazon belongs to the President’s Liberal Party.

Villanueva is a stalwart of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption party-list,  Angara is a member of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino while Hontiveros belongs to the partylist group Akbayan.