Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
Aside from two guest candidates, one or two “surprise” names will compose Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s senatorial ticket dubbed as “Team GP” or “Team Galing at Puso,” its campaign manager said on Wednesday.
Cebu Representative Ace Durano, the campaign manager of the slate, said all 12 candidates in the Poe-Escudero senatorial lineup will be present during its launching at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan on Thursday.
“As of this afternoon, (all 12 have confirmed),” Durano said in a phone patch interview with Senate reporters.
Durano refused to name the 12 except saying that they are all “highly accomplished” individuals and they represent a broad sector of society.
Poe and Escudero have so far endorsed the senatorial bids of Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares, Manila Vice Mayor Francis “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, and lawyer Lorna Kapunan.
READ: Poe, Escudero endorse Colmenares as first member of senatorial slate |Isko Moreno joins Senate race under Grace Poe’s ticket | Poe, Escudero endorse Lorna Kapunan’s Senate bid
But with the prodding of reporters, Durano said the “Team GP” will be composed of re-electionist senators, two guest or common candidates, and one or two surprise names, among others.
“I think based sa ‘yung lumabas na sa mga news, may one or two na surprise (I think based on what came out in reports, there are one or two surprise candidates),” he said.
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The surprise candidates, he said, are “really capable” and “accomplished” individuals.
Asked if the surprise names were first timers in politics, the campaign manager said: “First timers in terms of running for the Senate.”
In the case of the two guest candidates, he said, both “personify” the “Galing at Puso” slogan of the team.
Durano said the team will not impose any rules even to the guest candidates.
“We really respect ‘yung mga individual candidates kasi sila rin may sariling (because they have their own) advocacies, they have their own campaign color as well,” he said. “Yung general theme, walang maiiwan (no one will be left behind), that’s the general theme of the campaign. As far as each of the personality, they personify Galing at Puso…”
“Ang dahilan ng walang rules, kasi ang common candidates natin dalawa lang e so ‘yung 10 they are all out naman sa team GP so that’s why hindi kaialngan ng rules kasi ‘yung dalawa parang exemption na lang ‘yun e. So ‘yung 10, you don’t have to worry about that,” he further said.
(We don’t have rules because we only have two guest candidates, and 10 who are all-out team GP. The other two are just an exemption, while we don’t have to worry about the 10.)
So far, Durano said the team has scheduled 20 rallies but the complete ticket is expected to appear in at least two major rallies — during the proclamation rally and the miting de avance. IDL