Lakas names 6 Senate bets to support

MANILA, Philippines - The Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) announced yesterday the six senatorial candidates from both the administration and the opposition coalitions that the party would support in the May elections.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, president of Lakas-CMD, said the party decided to endorse Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Grace Poe from the administration Team PNoy; and Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile and re-electionist Sen. Gringo Honasan, who are all running under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

He said the six senatorial candidates have been chosen based on their competence as “congressional leaders and championing people’s interests, especially in showing sympathy and extending assistance” to the constituents of Lakas-CMD members whose districts had been hit by natural disasters.

Romualdez said Lakas would decide next week and announce four more senatorial aspirants that the party will support.

The decision on who to back in the remaining two slots will be left to individual party members.

“By next week, we will make another announcement to complete the 10 names and will leave the two slots as agreed upon earlier at the discretion of our members. Some of our local candidates have expressed sympathy and support to some senatorial candidates of their choice and we are respecting this request,” he said.

“We see them as allies for extending help to our colleagues whose districts have been flooded by typhoons and seriously affected by other natural disasters,” Romualdez said after presiding over the Lakas-CMD’s national executive committee meeting in Makati City.

“They will champion people’s interests and obviously we share principled ideas, policies and goals to help the country propel its economic growth,” he said.

“We admire them for adhering to the principles and practices that serve the people and help us make the right decisions leading to good governance. They also follow the highest standards of public service,” he added.

Among those who attended the Lakas meeting were party chairman Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., House Minority Leader and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong, both vice chairmen of the party.