Grace Poe delays senatorial announcement due to ‘Lando’

Senator Grace Poe said the announcement of her senatorial line up would be delayed so they could focus on typhoon “Lando,” which is affecting the country.

Poe earlier said that she and her running mate, Senator Francis Escudero, would disclose this week their complete senatorial ticket for 2016.

READ: Poe, Escudero to reveal Senate slate next week

“We should focus our efforts first on the storm and what we can do to help so we are delaying the release of the slate,” she said in a text message on Monday.

Asked if they could still make the announcement within the week, Poe said: “Hopefully.”

So far, Poe and Escudero have endorsed two senatorial bets: Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno.

Earlier reports identified those on the Poe-Escudero slate as Sen. Vicente Sotto III and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, who both belong to Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC); Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who are part of the Daang Matuwid Coalition; former Senators Richard Gordon and Juan Miguel Zubiri, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo; lawyer Lorna Kapunan; and actor Edu Manzano; among others

READ: Poe readies Senate slate

Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian, said the senator was “placing politics in the back burner in light of the storm.”

“Lando has caused destruction in the country side and every public servant should answer to the call of assisting the victims. Her office’s focus is to assist the victims in whatever capacity she can,” Gatchalian said in a separate text message

“Lando has caused massive destruction in the provinces. Up to date, the typhoon is still causing destruction,” he said.