Tolentino bares Senate bid

Screengrab from Maricar Brizuela’s Twitter account

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino has officially announced his intention to run for a Senate seat in next year’s polls.

In a gathering of officials from various local government units (LGUs) from Cavite province on Tuesday, Tolentino announced his intention to run.

He said that he will run under the administration’s Liberal Party and that he will tender his resignation as MMDA chief “in the next few days.”

Tolentino said that he will focus on the environment should he be elected.

Cavite officials such as Vice Governor Jolo Revilla and Cavite Representative Lani Mercado-Revilla backed Tolentino’s Senate bid.

During the past few months, Tolentino accompanied administration presidential bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas II in various sorties around the country.

He drew flak as some viewed it as an abandonment of his duties as an MMDA chief as the Metro is gripped by heavy traffic. AJH/with a report from Maricar Brizuela, Philippine Daily Inquirer