Alvarez to endorse Aguirre’s inclusion in PDP-Laban Senate slate

MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Monday said he would endorse the inclusion of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to the 2019 senatorial slate of the ruling party, Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan.

“I will highly recommend the inclusion of Secretary Vit Aguirre in the ticket of the administration–in PDP,” Alvarez told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino.

Alvarez said Aguirre is fit to become a senator as becoming one would further help President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Susuportahan ko po yung kandidatura ni Vit Aguirre. Kakausapin ko po ang ating pangulo kung pwede ipahiram muna si Sec. Vit Aguirre sa Senado upang bumilis–bilis naman ang pagpasa ng mga batas doon (I will support the candidacy of Vit Aguirre. I would speak to the president and ask him if he could allow Secretary Aguirre's run to hasten the passage of laws in the Senate,” Alvarez said.

The House speaker said the lower chamber of the 17th Congress has approved over a hundred bills but the Senate only enacted 10 endorsed bills into laws during the First Regular Session.

Alvarez added that the House sent to the Senate 70 approved bills for the opening of the Second Regular Session.  

He shared that he already informed Aguirre about his nomination and the justice secretary just responded with a smile.

Last Friday, Alvarez named presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson among the eyed senatorial bets of PDP-Laban in 2019.

READ: Mocha, Roque being eyed as PDP-Laban Senate bets

Alvarez also mentioned the inclusion of the following: Rep. Karlo Nograles (Davao City), Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Negros Occidental), Rep. Geraldine Roman (Bataan) and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino.

He clarified that PDP-Laban officers would decide on the party’s final line-up for the 2019 mid-term polls.

“These are just proposals,” Alvarez said in Filipino.

Alvarez said Senate President and PDP-Laban President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel is automatically included in the slate as he is set to lead the party’s bid for the elections.