Tolentino hopes to get support of several political parties

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino declared he could work with all the presidential aspirants that adopted him as a common senatorial candidate.

Tolentino said he is not worried about running for a Senate seat as an independent as he has the support of several parties. He was here Friday for speaking engagements with some academic and non-government organizations.

Among the presidential aspirants that are supporting him are Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. 

He said Poe worked with him for three years as vice chair of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), Santiago is a strong supporter and Duterte endorsed him three times when he ran for president of the City Mayors’ League of the Philippines. Binay is also allegedly supportive, being a former MMDA chairman himself. 

“All the presidential candidates are qualified to be president. So, with that status they are all my friends, I will announce my ‘presidentiable’ at the right time,” Tolentino said. 

He also said he can work with multi-parties, citing his experience in MMDA when he united all 17 mayors in Metro Manila. 

“I am comfortable in dealing with a multi-party set-up,” he added.