Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 15) — Presidential aspirant Sen. Ping Lacson and his running mate Senate President Tito Sotto have bared their senatorial bets — most of whom are big names in politics and adopted by other political parties as well.
“Naniniwala po kami na ito ang mga kandidatong karapat-dapat sa Senado,” said Sotto, referring to the 14-strong lineup.
[Translation: We believe these are the candidates who deserve to be in the Senate.]
Among them are public officials who served in the Senate before moving to other government posts, namely Antique Rep. Loren Legarda; Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero, and former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Sec. Gringo Honasan.
Also included in the slate are incumbent senators hoping to stay in the chamber: Sen. Win Gatchalian, Sen. Richard Gordon, Sen. Migs Zubiri, and Sen. Joel Villanueva.
The ticket also features past national-level politicians — former vice president Jejomar Binay, senator JV Ejercito and Mindanao Development Authority chairman Manny Piñol. It also includes past local officials, namely former Quezon City mayor Herbert Bautista and Makati representative Monsour del Rosario.
Completing the set are ophthalmologist Dr. Minguita Padilla and journalist Powee Capino.
Six aspirants come from Nationalist People’s Coalition chaired by Sotto: Legarda, Escudero, Gatchalian, Ejercito, Bautista, and Piñol.
Meanwhile, Padilla, del Rosario, and Capino are from Lacson’s Partido Reporma.
Five aspirants are also included in the senatorial tickets of the Leni Robredo-Kiko Pangilinan and Manny Pacquiao-Lito Atienza tandems: Gordon, Zubiri, Binay, Escudero, and Villanueva.
“Tulungan niyo po kami sa pagtaguyod sa kandidatura ng ating mga kaibigan,” said Sotto. “Nakakasiguro po kami na malaki ang maitutulong ng ating mga kandidato sa ating bansa, sa ating mga kababayan, at sa Senado.”
[Translation: Please help us advance the candidacy of our friends. We are certain our candidates can provide much help to our country, our countrymen, and the Senate.]
