Liberal Party senatorial slate 'near final'

MANILA -- The senatorial line-up of the administration's Liberal Party (LP) is almost complete, party president Manuel Roxas II said Tuesday.

Roxas said LP is still in talks with various members of the so-called LP coalition to finalize who will be included in the "Magic 12."

"It's near final," he said in a press briefing in Malacañang adding that the full slate will be announced to public sometime this week.

Roxas did not categorically say if Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who recently drew flaks over his role as the country's backroom negotiator with China, will be included in the slate.

"We have a coalition agreement with the Nacionalista Party (NP) and he is one of those who the NP included in their list of candidates," the Interior Secretary answered when asked if Trillanes will run under LP.

Roxas, however, believed that Trillanes could still be an asset in the administration slate considering his experience as senator and his commitment to the advocacy of President Benigno Aquino III.

"His records speak for itself and the people will judge him over the last six years. The slate represents those who have helped in the advancement of the President's agenda and those who have committed to his program of government," he said.

He also downplayed the repercussion of Trillanes's apparent "disrespectful" act against Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

"I was a former senator. We all stand by what we do and what we say. Senator Trillanes has a well-considered position and had his own reasons (for doing that)," Roxas said.

The LP official, meanwhile, refused to comment on reports that no LP original will be included in the administration ticket.

A newspaper report said the senatorial line-up of the administration will be composed of people from parties that are forming coalition with LP, such as, the NP and the Nationalist People's Coalition.

The LP coalition ticket will reportedly be composed of Juan Edgardo Angara (LDP), Aquilino Pimentel III (PDP-Laban), Alan Peter Cayetano (NP), Antonio Trillanes IV (NP), Francis Escudero (independent), Risa Hontiveros (Akbayan), Cynthia Villar (NP), Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Bam Aquino (Kaya Natin), Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Jamby Madrigal. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)