LP Senate slate bared today

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is expected to lead today the presentation of the administration’s “Daang Matuwid” senatorial slate for the 2016 elections that include representatives from the Muslim and non-government organization sectors.

A stalwart of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) said the 12-member senatorial ticket was finalized only yesterday afternoon, the eve of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) after two bets – Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon – backed out.

The “twerking” controversy that led to the withdrawal of former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino from the administration senatorial slate also caused delays in the decision-making process of the LP leadership.

Administration standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II presided over a meeting at LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City yesterday to finalize the ticket.

The senatorial slate includes Senate President Franklin Drilon; Senators Ralph Recto and Teofisto Guingona III; and former senators Panfilo Lacson and Francisco Pangilinan.

The slate also has former justice secretary Leila de Lima; former energy secretary Jericho Petilla; former technical and vocational education chief Joel Villanueva; and former Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority chief Mark Lapid.

Representing the non-government organization and civil society sectors in the ticket are former Akbayan party-list representative Risa Hontiveros, and Rep. Crescente Paez of the Coop-Natcco party-list.

Bai Nariman Ambolodto, an assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior of Local Government, will be the Muslim senatorial candidate of the administration coalition, the source said.

The inclusion of a Muslim candidate and a representative from civil society was upon the instruction of Aquino, who was heavily involved in the selection of the senatorial bets.

The selection of Ambolodto and Paez appeared to be done at the last minute as their names never came up in discussions of LP leaders in recent weeks.

“Paez claims to have 10 million members in their group (Coop-Natcco),” the source said.

On the other hand, Roxas and his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, are expected to file their COCs together on Thursday.

“I think their respective feng shui are good that day,” another LP leader said.

The administration senatorial candidates, however, will file their COCs individually, the source added.