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Koko includes re-electionist senators in own 2019 slate

March 26, 2018 | 12:43pm

Koko includes re-electionist senators in own 2019 slate

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said that a senatorial candidate must be in favor of federalism to be included in the slate of PDP-Laban for the 2019 elections.

Presidential Photo / Toto Lozano

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Koko Pimentel assured re-electionist majority senators that he would fight for them to be included in PDP-Laban's senatorial slate for the 2019 elections.

Pimentel, in a radio interview, clarified that the senatorial slate of the ruling political party is not yet final.

"Siyempre ilalaban ko yan, except that ngayon nandito pa kami sa state na kapartido muna namin yung ine-entertain namin," Pimentel told radio dzBB on Sunday.

(Of course, I will fight for that, except we are in the state that we are prioritizing our own party-mates.)

The Senate president made this comment after Sen. JV Ejercito expressed his sentiments against Pimentel for supposedly being left out of PDP-Laban's senatorial lineup.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier announced the names of the possible candidates of the ruling political party, including Pimentel, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid "Dong" Mangudadatu, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Davao Rep. Karlo Nograles, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque and special assistant to the president Bong Go.

"Dun po 'yung sama ng loob ng mga re-electionist senators na naging supportive naman kami bakit parang ayaw kami isama sa administration coalition kung sakali," Ejercito said in a news conference last Thursday.

(That's the resentment of the re-electionist senators who have been supportive but it appears that they do not want to include us in the administration coalition if ever.)

Following Ejercito's remarks, Pimentel assured his colleagues that he would support them in the upcoming elections. This includes Ejercito, Sen. Sonny Angara, Sen. Nancy Binay, Sen. Grace Poe and Sen. Cynthia Villar.

"The five majority senators who have been very supportive of the President’s legislative agenda are correct in saying that they should at least be considered and they are being considered," Pimentel told ANC.

Pimentel noted that his own senatorial slate is different with those of Alvarez in the sense that he has included members of the Senate majority who are re-electionists.

The Senate president added that for a candidate to be included in PDP-Laban's lineup, the candidate must be in favor of the shift to federalism.

"Because we cannot share the same stage and then we ask people to support federalism, here comes a voice very dissimilar or out of tune… We do not want that to happen," Pimentel said.

Bam not interested in joining 'The Force'

Sen. Bam Aquino, the only re-electionist senator excluded in the prospective PDP-Laban slate, said that he would join an opposition slate in the upcoming elections.

"In 2019, hindi lang ‘The Force’ kailangan, we need ‘The Resistance’ – a genuine opposition slate. Kailangan ng mga taong magsasama-sama, magtutulong-tulong para labanan ang polisiya ng administrasyon na nakakasakit sa tao. You will find me on that slate," Aquino said in an interview with ANC's "Early Edition" on Monday.

Aquino was referring to the five re-electionist senators, who have labeled themselves as "The Force."

The opposition senator said that the Liberal Party would be joining a coalition slate that would be composed of those who are willing to speak out against the Duterte administration's policies.

"You need a slate that’s independent from PDP-Laban, that’s willing to oppose, willing to stand up even if it’s unpopular, and even when it’s dangerous," he said.