LP has 8 bets for senator in the bag

The Liberal Party has filled eight of the 12 slots in the administration-backed senatorial ticket next year.

But the LP may wait until the last minute before its Sept. 30 meeting at its Balay headquarters in Quezon City for standard bearer Mar Roxas to announce who between Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo would be his running mate.

According to Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, the eight LP senatorial candidates are three reelectionists (Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senators Ralph Recto and Teofisto Guingona III), former Sen. Francis Pangilinan and four Cabinet members (Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Joel Villanueva, Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino and former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla).

Castelo said the eight names were announced in a resolution during a meeting of the National Executive Council last Tuesday with President Aquino.

Seat for Pacquiao

Castelo said that of the four remaining slots, one seat was reserved for Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who attended the formal launch of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance party two months ago.

He said Robredo would get an automatic seat on the senatorial slate if she continued to decline to run for vice president.

Castelo said the individuals being considered for the other seats were Taguig Rep. Lino Cayetano and Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar of the Nacionalista Party, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson and Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros.

Last-minute decision

Erice said Roxas’ choice for vice president could be decided at the last minute before the Sept. 30 LP meeting with President Aquino.

He said that at this point, it is still a toss-up between Robredo and Cayetano, with the final decision to be made by Roxas in consultation with the President and LP leaders.

LP members have been invited to attend the 8 a.m. event on Tuesday in which the President would announce the party’s full ticket.

Castelo said that aside from forming a strong ticket for 2016, it was important to keep Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. within the fold amid efforts by other groups to pry him out of the LP.

“He is the glue that will hold everybody together, an ingredient that Secretary Mar needs very badly now. The Speaker’s close relationship with different political parties will prevent the party and coalition from breaking up,” said Castelo.

Erice said LP members appreciated the importance of keeping Belmonte in the fold. “I for one sees no other option [to keep the party members together] but the Speaker. He has mastered how to manage the House,” said Erice.