By Mae Ann Los Banos, News5 | October 6, 2017, 4:19 PM

MANILA, Philippines — Besides himself, Senate president Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III wants these five people to become the administration’s senatorial candidates in the 2019 polls:

–Negros Occidental Third District Rep. Albee Benitez

–Bataan First District Rep. Geraldine Roman

–Davao City 1st District Rep. Karlo Nograles

–Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino

–House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas

Pimentel said he would still “personally discuss” with the five politicians their possible candidacies and the PDP-Laban Party “will try” its “best to come up with a complete 12-person slate.”

“This is a developing, evolving matter. Hence, not final, not official, just my personal preferences,” he told reporters on Friday.

“If we cannot come up with 12 then we are open to entering into coalition agreements with other parties…If incumbent re-electionist senators join the party, then they will enjoy priority in inclusion in the slate,” said Pimentel.

The Senate president said he was planning to ask Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to be the national campaign manager for the senatorial slate “under the battle cry 12-0” or winning all senatorial seats.