Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Liberal Party (LP) on Thursday night (October 8) said that it will be moving its senatorial line-up announcement on Monday (October 12) to allow Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista additional time to mull if he wants to run for Senate.
The additional time can allow Bautista “time for reflection and to consult with his family.”
“We believe this additional time for discernment is in the best interest of the parties and candidates concerned,” the statement said.
It also cited the request of outgoing Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino to be excluded from the LP slate as a reason to postpone the scheduled presentation of its senatorial candidates.
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The LP initially scheduled to make the announcement on Friday (October 9).
Related: Aquino no mention if Tolentino still part of LP senatorial slate
Villanueva confirms joining LP slate
Meanwhile, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva confirmed that he will be joining the administration’s senatorial ticket.
This was despite his earlier pronouncements that he did not feel comfortable being with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on the same slate.
Related: NBI files third batch of PDAF cases vs. nine lawmakers, others
Earlier, he also said that he believes that LP members want him out of the slate.
Villanueva also said he is open to being a “shared candidate,” meaning he could be endorsed by presidential aspirants from other parties who may be forming a senatorial slate.
He said he talked with the camps of Sen. Grace Poe and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte who has made previous statements that he has no intentions to run for president.
CNN Philippines’ Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
