Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former Senator Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago is open to the possibility of including former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson as guest candidate in her senatorial slate next year.
“We’ll there have been feelers and I have not been negative,” Santiago said in a press conference on Tuesday when asked if she was open to adopt Lacson as a guest candidate in her slate with running mate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“I’ve said that I will maintain an open mind,” she added.
Two senators had been at odds when Lacson defended Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile over the alleged additional cash gifts that then Senate President Enrile gave to senators closed to him except Santiago, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV.
READ: Santiago, Lacson word war erupts over Enrile’s gifts
Lacson, who is part of the senatorial ticket of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and has been adopted as guest candidate in the slate of Vice President Jejomar Binay, also expressed openness to become a guest candidate in the Santiago-Marcos slate.
“I am always consistent in accepting or not declining invitations from any serious presidential tandems to be their guest candidate and I consider it a privilege and honor to be such a guest candidate,” he said in a text message but said he has not received yet a text message or call from Santiago’s camp.
Asked if he was open in case the offer was made to him, Lacson said: “Yes that’s always my position on being invited as guest candidate.”
So far, Marcos has named three candidates who have sure slots in the slate and they were Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Manila Vice Mayor Franciso “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Susan Ople, who were also part of Binay’s ticket.
READ: Miriam, Bongbong senate slate in the works wooing Pacquiao