GRAPHIC: Samual Yap / INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday announced the 12 senatorial candidates he endorses for the 2025 elections.
He made the revelation during a political event at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
The Marcos administration’s senatorial slate are members of the newly-formed political coalition “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
According to Marcos, this coalition will “unite the broadest force of those who love the country.”
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The 12 senatorial candidates included reelectionists, Cabinet members, and former senators, among others, who came from different political parties, such as the Partido Federal ng Filipinas, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Lakas-CMD, and Nacionalista Party.
Below are the names of the senatorial bets that Marcos endorsed:
- Senator (reelectionist) Imee Marcos
- Interior Sec. Benhur Abalos Jr.
- Makati Mayor Abby Binay
- Senator (reelectionist) Pia Cayetano
- Senator (reelectionist) Lito Lapid
- ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo
- Senator (reelectionist) Francis Tolentino
- Former Senator Manny Pacquiao
- Former Senate President Tito Sotto
- Senator (reelectionist) Bong Revilla
- Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson
- Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar
Almost all admin bets were in the program, except for Imee, the President’s sister.
READ: Sara Duterte says ‘never again’ teaming up with Marcoses
In a speech before announcing his endorsement, Marcos mentioned the qualities he was looking for in picking his senatorial bets: loyalty and love for country.
“Sa aking pag-endorso, ang tanging hiling ko ay mapanatili ang kanilang katapatan at pagmamahal sa bansa,” Marcos said.
(In my endorsement, my only wish is to maintain their loyalty and love for the country.)
“Ito ang pinakamahalagang katangian ng kandidato na aking tinitignan at pinag-iisipan,” he added.
(This is the most important characteristic of the candidate that I look at and think about.)
Marcos then expressed optimism that the candidates he endorsed will be one with the government in advancing the development of the country.
Senatorial bets
Sotto, chairperson of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), said they joined the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas “for the service of the public.”
“[A political party] should be for the public, for the service of the public. If your intention is not for the people, we have no business being a political party. That is the stand of the NPC lagi (always) and we found it in the stand of the [Partido Federal ng Pilipinas] and we look forward to it,” he said in a chance interview.
“Umaasa tayo na mas magiging maganda ang samahan ng legislative at executive departments,” he added.
(We hope that this alliance will improve the relationship between the legislative and executive departments.)
He then expressed confidence in the winnability of the alliance’s senatorial slate, noting how it is a “very good mix” of politicians from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, as well as different sectors.
Villar, on the other hand, said she aims to continue the advocacies of her parents, Senator Cynthia Villar and former Senate President Manny Villar.
“Pagtulong sa mahihirap at lahat ng programa para sa kabuhayan, diyan tayo magfo-focus,” she said.
(Helping the poor and livelihood programs will be our focus.)
According to Villar, one advantage of the alliance is its unity and capability to offer a “fresh take” on the problems that the country faces.
Binay, meanwhile, said she joined the alliance to support the Marcos administration’s projects and empower local governments. This is despite her rift with the Cayetanos due to the 30-year land dispute between the cities of Makati and Taguig.
“I agreed to join the alliance because of the President. Sino naman ako para magsabi kung sino ang gusto ko makasama at kung sino yung ‘di ko gusto ko makasama? (Who am I to say who I want to be with?) So I am here to support the projects and the projects of the President,” she said.
Binay also stressed the need to create and update laws involving local governments, citing her experience as a local chief executive.
“Marami po problema sa ground na kailangan baguhin, marami pong batas na luma na. Kailangan i-update kasi pasado na ang local government code, marami po doon kailangan baguhin,” she said.
(There are many problems on the ground that need to be changed, many laws are outdated. It needs to be updated because the local government code has passed, there is a lot that needs to be changed.)
Meanwhile, Abalos expressed his trust to the public.
“At the end of the day, ‘yung pipili naman na mga botante kikilitasin naman nila kung ano ‘yung background, kung ano ‘yung nagawa ng kandidato para sa bansa,” he said.
(At the end of the day, the voters will assess the background of each candidate, and what the candidate has done for the country.)
He also vowed that while he has yet to resign as interior secretary, he intends to wrap up his duties in the Department of Interior and the Local Government.
Asked if he already knows who will replace him in his post, Abalos said he would leave it to Marcos.