Poe not yet forming ticket but potential bets now lining up

SENATOR Grace Poe admitted on Wednesday that there are now potential senatorial candidates who have expressed desire to join her possible run with Senator Francis Escudero in 2016, but both denied that they were already preparing a Senate slate.

“Wala pa,” Poe said in a text message when sought to react to persistent murmurs that they were already forming a senatorial ticket for next year’s elections.

“Although may mga interesadong sumama if ever, hindi naman official ang usapan,” she added without naming names.

Like Poe, Escudero also categorically denied that they were already preparing a slate, noting that Poe herself has not decided yet on her possible run next year.

“None. She hasn’t even decided re 2016. (You) can’t put the cart ahead of the horse,” Escudero said in a separate text message.

Poe and Escudero are frontrunners in the presidential and vice presidential surveys but they have yet to publicly declare whether or not they would seek a higher post next year.

Among those reportedly in the senatorial slate being readied by the two senators are senators Bongbong Marcos, Ralph Recto and Tito Sotto, who are all up for reelection, former Senator Panfilo Lacson, boxer Manny Pacquiao, Representatives Sherwin Gatchalian, Mark Villar, Martin Romualdez and Lino Cayetano, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) chief Joel Villanueva, former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno.

READ: Poe, Escudero said to be readying senatorial lineup