Aquino to name 12 LP senatoriables next month

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III said Friday that the 2013 senatorial line-up of the Liberal Party (LP) was almost complete and will be formally announced by September.

In a chance interview in Malacañang, Aquino said there are only 13 names being considered for the 12 slots of the administration senatorial ticket.

"We started with a list of 30 people. We are now, I think very solidly is about 13, we're still more than the 12 that we need," he said.

He noted that it is hard to decide on the final list since his party coalesced with other parties such as Nacionalista Party (NP) and Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

"We are in a coalition. We are discussing who gets the last slot, then we will announce. Hopefully, by next month, we will formally introduce our slate," Aquino said.

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III confirmed Thursday that he will be joining the LP slate as guest candidate.

Aquino admitted Pimentel's statement that he is already composing his endorsement speech for the LP slate.

"Of course, this is a campaign so we have to champion the assets of every candidate. Why they were chosen by the party and tell the public that they share our advocacies," he said.

He noted that the administration coalition was not formed out of political convenience but all candidates share the principles and advocacies of the Aquino government.

Aquino said he sees himself in Pimentel since he was also a victim of electoral cheating during the 2007 elections and his family also suffered during the Martial law.

"We will support the candidacies of these people because we believe that we are pushing for the same agenda," the Chief Executive said.

Aquino also took the opportunity to defend the LP senatoriables, who were recently criticized for supposed early campaigning by joining him in visiting places flooded by monsoon rains.

He pointed out that he brought along the potential senatoriables of LP in touring flood-stricken places for them to personally witness the damage caused by floods and eventually look for ways on how to address it.

Among those who were with the President were Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva, Akbayan party-list spokesperson Risa Hontiveros, Bureau of Customs chief Rozzano Ruffy Biazon, and Aurora Representative Sonny Angara. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)