Noy swears in Team PNoy senators

MANILA, Philippines - Five winning senatorial candidates of the administration Team PNoy elected in the May 13 polls took their oaths of office before President Aquino yesterday.

At the Rizal Hall in Malacañang, the President asked Senators Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Juan Edgardo Angara, Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero and Aquilino Pimentel III to take their oaths against a backdrop of paper doves. Aquino told the senators-elect that they should go near the doves, “so we can have peace with the Senate.” The backdrop was used during the vin d’ honneur for the country’s 115th Independence Day celebration at the Palace on Wednesday.

The incoming senators attended the oath-taking ceremonies with their respective families.  Escudero showed up with his two children and his celebrity girlfriend, Heart Evangelista.

Governors belonging to the ruling Liberal Party also took their oaths before the President.

They were Junie Cua of Quirino province, Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque, Mario Gene Mendiola of Occidental Mindoro, Alfonso Umali of Oriental Mindoro, Eduardo Firmalo of Romblon, Joey Salceda of Albay.

The other governors included Edgar Tallado (Camarines Norte), Arthur Defensor Sr. (Iloilo), Victor Tanco (Capiz), Samuel Gumarin (Guimaras), Exequiel Javier (Antique), Ed Chatto (Bohol), Hilario Davide III (Cebu), Zaldy Villa (Siquijor), Gerardo Espina Jr. (Biliran), Conrad Nicart (Eastern Samar), Dominic Petilla (Leyte), Roberto Uy (Zamboanga del Norte), Arturo Uy (Compostela Valley), Rodolfo del Rosario (Davao del Norte), Johnny Pimentel (Surigao del Sur), Mujiv Hataman (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), Jum Akbar (Basilan), Mamintal Adiong Sr. (Lanao del Sur), Esmael Mangudadatu (Maguindanao), Abdusakur Tan II (Sulu), Nurbert Sahali (Tawi-Tawi), Jocel Baac (Kalinga) and Elias Bulut Jr. (Apayao).

For the ARMM Regional Legislative Assembly, those who took their oaths were Ahmad Ali (Basilan lone district), Ziaur Adiong-Rahman and Docjan Pandi (Lanao del Sur first district), Yasser Balindong, Alex Menor and Hosni Macapodi (Lanao del Sur second district), Roonie Sinsuat, Cahar Ibay and Harold Tomawis (Maguindanao first district).

The others were Khadafeh Mangudadatu, Tunggal Piang and Guiadzali Midtimbang (Maguindanao second district), Nedra Burahan, Ben Tulawie and Rizal Tingkahan Jr. (Sulu first district), Ridija Anni, Moh Bhydir Sarapuddin and Khalil Hajibin (Sulu second district), Sulay Halipa, Myrna Ajihil and Rodolfo Bawasanta (Tawi-Tawi lone district).