Administration senatorial lineup complete by tomorrow – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang expressed confidence yesterday that the senatorial line up of the administration would be completed by tomorrow, the scheduled proclamation of candidates.

But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she could not give the names in the line up since she was not part of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) headed by President Aquino.

In particular, Valte said she was not aware if the President was indeed convincing Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares to run for the Senate, while other LP leaders were talking to Filipino boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao to be part of the LP slate.

“But the information I got was that the President’s announcement of the slate would definitely be a go on Monday,” Valte said.

LP standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II and other LP leaders were scheduled to announce their senatorial candidates last Friday.

But Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista reportedly asked for more time to think about seeking a Senate seat or seeking reelection as mayor. He decided to seek reelection that same day. He would be on his third and last term if he gets elected again in May.

As for Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar, who belongs to the Nacionalista Party, he chose to go for his last term as congressman.

The withdrawal from the senatorial race of Villar and Bautista reportedly prompted LP to recycle a party member and an administration ally in its ticket for the May 2016 elections.

Reportedly taking the place of the two are Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon and former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros.

Biazon, an LP member, served in the Senate for 12 years before running for congressman of Muntinlupa. He is now on his second term as the city’s representative and still has one term to go under the Constitution’s three-term limit for members of the House of Representatives.

His son Rozzano Rufino, former congressman and Customs commissioner, will most likely aspire for his father’s congressional seat. The younger Biazon is facing criminal charges in connection with the alleged misuse of his pork barrel funds when he was the representative of Muntinlupa.

Hontiveros, currently a director of the state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp., lost as an administration senatorial candidate in the 2010 and 2013 elections.

Four slots in the LP Senate slate have been reserved for three LP senators seeking reelection: Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto and Teofisto Guingona III. The fourth slot will go to former senator and erstwhile presidential adviser on food security Francis Pangilinan.

Four days ago the President, the titular head of LP, and some party leaders wanted to drop Guingona reportedly due to the strong opposition of an influential billionaire businessman close to Malacañang and who is a big campaign funder.

However, Roxas convinced Aquino on Friday that Guingona, considered a loyal party man, be retained in the ticket.

Though he has said he would leave the vice presidential and senatorial choices to Roxas, Aquino has a big say, if not the last word, on the LP presidential candidate’s running mates.

Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo was the President’s choice for Roxas’ vice presidential partner.

Another four senatorial slots are reserved for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, former energy secretary Jericho Petilla, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Joel Villanueva and former senator Panfilo Lacson as an adopted candidate. Also being considered is Health Secretary Janette Garin.

Roxas vows to help informal settlers

Meanwhile, Roxas vowed to help bring more informal settlers to safe zones, saying the continuous development of safe communities makes sustainable lives for families.

Roxas made the promise when he visited the relocated informal settlers living in Camarin Residences One, an established community in Caloocan City built by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s Oplan Likas, National Housing Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Justice, the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor and the local government.

The residents of Camarin used to live in the danger-prone areas along Estero de Maypajo, Tullahan riverside and in nearby areas in Barangay 175.

Roxas led the effort to transfer hundred of informal settlers living in danger zones to houses set up by the government for them.

Residents welcomed Roxas and thanked him for his efforts during his stint as secretary of DILG.

Roxas asked the residents about their concerns and they said it included the high cost of water in the community.

He told residents that through the program of daang matuwid (straight path), a step-by-step process of establishing personal water meters would reduce the price of water to less than half of what they currently pay.

He also said that the Public Employment Office of Caloocan City would address the livelihood and employment needs of the residents.

During the house visit, Roxas was joined by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan, Rep. Edgar Erice, Councilor Dale Gonzalo Malapitan and other local government officials and supporters. – With Jess Diaz, Cecille Suerte Felipe