Published April 19, 2018, 4:34 PM
By Vanne Elaine Terrazola

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III on Thursday bared the names of those being considered for the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan’s (PDP-Laban) senatorial slate in the 2019 midterm elections.

Pimentel, PDP-Laban president, in a phone interview, said he has compiled some 20 names, including a media practitioner, who could be in the ruling political party’s ticket for the May 2019 polls.

The list includes him, and five other re-electionist senators, namely Senators Grace Poe, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Cynthia Villar, Joseph Victor Ejercito, and Nancy Binay.

Despite not being members of the party, Pimentel had assured majority senators who are “supportive” of the Duterte administration’s thrusts to include them in the Magic 12.

With Ejercito’s inclusion in the list, Pimentel confirmed choosing him over his elder brother, former senator Jinggoy Estrada, who earlier claimed that a PDP-Laban member is talking to him for his possible inclusion in the slate.

The Senate chief also listed members of the House of Representatives, namely, Surigao del Norte Representative Robert “Ace” Barbers, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rey Umali, and Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano.

Aside from the lawmakers, Pimentel also announced that the PDP-Laban is also considering news reporter Rodrigo “Jiggy” Manicad to be their candidate.

Pimentel, earlier, hinted that a media practitioner will be included in the senatorial bet. Manicad, he said, took his oath in the PDP-Laban before him, although noting that he cannot remember when since it was “not one-on-one.”

Members of the Duterte Cabinet whose names had already floated — Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, and presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino — are also included in their consideration, Pimentel said.

Singer and Duterte supporter Freddie Aguilar, who had announced his plan to run for a Senate seat in 2019, will also be considered for the slate.

Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson, as well as former DILG Rafael Alunan are also among their choices.

Pimentel said the PDP-Laban has been conducting a survey among the “general public” to finalize its list. He added that party members will also be asked about their preferred candidates.

Pimentel also stressed that President Duterte will have a “major role” in choosing the names of their bets since he will be campaigning for them.

The PDP-Laban president said they aim to release the final list before the filing of the candidacy on October.

He said he hopes that the names mentioned won’t bolt from the party because they were not chosen.