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MANILA, Philippines – With only a year before the 2019 elections, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III vowed to campaign for reelectionist senators, as well as senatorial bets of his party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Sotto said it could be one factor why former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel III consented to the change in leadership earlier. Pimentel is one of the 7 senators eyeing reelection next year.
“I will campaign for them vigorously. I guess that’s why former Senate president Koko Pimentel has agreed that we do it as soon as possible because I will be able to campaign. He has to campaign for himself. He will probably have to campaign for the PDP-Laban slate. But he could not campaign for reelectionists and other candidates,” Sotto said in a Rappler talk interview on Tuesday, May 22.
“As Senate president, I can do that. I’m not running in 2019. My term ends in 2022. I will be able to help those who we feel would be assets to the Senate,” he added.
Sotto, a noontime show host and musician, has consistently enjoyed high popularity ratings in surveys.
Of the 7 seeking another term, 6 belong to the majority bloc: Senators Pimentel, Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Grace Poe, and Cynthia Villar.
Only Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV is from the minority.
Asked if Aquino is also included, Sotto said it’s highly likely but said the final decision would come from the NPC leadership.
Also eyed to be included in the NPC’s list are former senators Jinggoy Estrada and Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano, as well as Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte, and broadcast journalist Ted Failon should they decide to run. – Rappler.com
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