Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Liberal Party (LP) members have admitted that not all their senatorial bets are shoo-ins for the Magic 12, but the party intends to boost their chances.
At their launching on Monday (October 12), the party was confident the team could sweep the 2016 senatorial election with 12 LP bets voted into office, but just a day since and the slate’s spokesmen are already saying something else.
It could be a more realistic outlook, considering that a sweep in the senatorial race has never happened. In 2013, nine out of the 12 Team PNoy bets won in the senatorial race, but the administration hopes to perform better in the 2015 elections.
“At the very least may 8 na diyan na tingin naming kakayanin talaga over the next few weeks na ipasok sa magic 12. So ang pinaguusapan nalang really are the last four slots,” said LP’s Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid spokesman Rep. Miro Quimbo.
Related: Liberal Party reveals 2016 senatorial slate
Marikina representative Miro Quimbo and Akbayan party-list representative Barry Gutierrez have been designated as spokesmen of the administration’s senatorial ticket.
Quimbo said it’s not as simple as saying that they have four weak candidates, rather, he admitted they see four strong opponents.
When Quimbo was pressed for names of the senatorial candidates LP considers a strong opponent, he only cited one — Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
As for their four bets who may need that extra push, he only named Interior and Local Government Assistant (DILG) Secretary for Muslim Affairs and Special Concerns Nariman “Ina” Ambolodto and COOP-National Confederation of Cooperatives party-list representative Cresente Paez.
Related: Paez, Ambolodto complete LP senatorial lineup
Both were included in the slate for sectoral representation, with Ambolodto to represent women and Muslims, while Paez to represent various workers cooperatives.
LP plans to help Paez and Ambolodto by campaigning at the grassroots level and sticking to issues.
“Kapag kami hindi umuwas sa tradisyon na pagsasayaw, hindi mananalo yung dalawa na huling kandidato. Ang pag-asa nila ay itaas yung debate pagdating sa usapin sa halalan sa Mayo,” said Quimbo.
The party is also confident of pushing a win for third-time runner PhilHealth director Risa Hontiveros.
A couple administration bets former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and TESDA chief Joel Villanueva have expressed openness to run as guest candidates in other slates being formed.
The party won’t stop them but with this condition.
“Sisiguraduhin natin na hindi kasabay kayong ineedorso sa ibang kandidato for president or vice president. It should be clear that they will only be supporting Sec. Mar [Roxas] and Cong. Leni Robredo,” said Quimbo.
