MANILA -- Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino, and Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux Uson are among the 20 names being considered by the ruling PDP Laban for its 2019 senatorial slate, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said Thursday.
In a text message to Senate reporters, Pimentel said that others being eyed for inclusion in the 12-man senatorial slate include himself and five other senators up for re-election -- Senators Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito, and Sonny Angara.
The others are former interior secretary Raffy Alunan, Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfred Benitez, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rey Umali, PBA Partylist Rep. Carlos Nograles, and former senator and now Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano.
Pimentel said that also up for consideration are music icon Freddie Aguilar and journalist Jiggy Manicad who are both PDP Laban members.
He said they would conduct surveys to find out the chances of those in the list and hope to finalize the slate by September.
However, he said that the party would “defer the final decision” to President Rodrigo R. Duterte, who is the chairman PDP-Laban. (PNA)
