PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte formally endorsed Thursday, February 14, the candidacy of 11 senatorial bets during the proclamation and kick-off rally of his political party, Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Duterte, chairperson of the PDP-Laban, led the presentation of his "personal" Senate slate in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
All of Duterte's candidates, whom the President said have a good and clean track record, were adopted by the ruling party.
The administration's official senatorial candidates include former special assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, former presidential adviser on political affairs Francis Tolentino, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, and Maguindanao Representative Zajid Mangudadatu.
They are dubbed as "MaBaGoKoTo".
The PDP-Laban, Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao said, also adopted as guest candidates incumbent senators Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara, Cynthia Villar, and Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito; former senator and Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano; Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos; and singer Freddie Aguilar.
Former senator Jinggoy Estrada, who was previously endorsed by Duterte in an impromptu speech, was not announced as guest candidate.
The President expressed hope that the electorate would vote wisely and that his Senate slate would claim victory in the May elections.
"Kayo, huwag kayong pumayag na lokohin kayo. Iyan ang ano ko sa inyo. (Never let others fool you. That's my advice to you). We will never rise," Duterte said in a speech delivered during his ruling party's proclamation rally.
"Remember this, pwede akong mawala bukas. Anytime ang tao. Pero tandaan niyo ito, dumaan ako dito (Remember this, I may be gone tomorrow. Anytime, people may be gone. But remember this, I was here)," he added. (SunStar Philippines)