Ex-MMDA chief Tolentino named Duterte political adviser

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman and defeated senatorial candidate Francis Tolentino as his political adviser, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Duterte signed Tolentino’s appointment on June 27. Tolentino, who donated P3.1 million for the Duterte’s political campaign, was endorsed by the President.

He served as the MMDA chairman under the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III. He ran for senator in the 2016 national elections as an independent candidate but lost.

READ: Tolentino on ‘ties’ with Aquino: I value our friendship

Tolentino, who had placed 13th in the senatorial race, filed an election protest against detained Sen. Leila De Lima. De Lima led Tolentino by around 1.3 million votes.

The election protest of Tolentino against De Lima is currently pending before the Senate Electoral Tribunal .

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