Tolentino would do well as senator: Duterte

President Rodrigo R. Duterte and his political adviser, Francis Tolentino, attend a situation briefing in Cagayan to assess the aftermath of Typhoon “Ompong” in northern Luzon. (Presidential Photo via PNA)

MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday complimented his political adviser Francis Tolentino for his character, saying he would make a good senator should he choose to run in the 2019 mid-term elections.

“Tolentino is with me because I like the way he is, his character and everything. And if by chance he would run again for senator, you would do well,” Duterte said during the oath-taking ceremony of Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) National Board of Officers and National Chapter Presidents in Malacañang on Wednesday.

Duterte also told the barangay officers that they would also make the right choice by voting for Tolentino.

“You would do well if you get him as one of the senators. Mahusay magtrabaho (He works well),” Duterte said.

Duterte recently assigned Tolentino to be his “conduit” to give updates on government’s disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts on Typhoon “Ompong” (Mangkhut).

The President said that Tolentino was kind, soft-spoken, and “has a very good persona.”

“Mabait na tao (He is a good person). You have dealt with him. He is very soft-spoken and. Walang babae, wala ngang asawa eh (He doesn’t have any women, he doesn’t even have a wife),” Duterte quipped.

“He has a very good persona. If you compare me to him, I would pale in comparison. Para akong (I’m like) Pale Pilsen,” he added, referring to the Filipino pale lager produced by San Miguel Brewery.

Tolentino is among Duterte appointees included on the Senate slate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Prior to being Duterte’s political adviser, Tolentino ran as senator in the 2016 national elections as independent candidate but lost. He was also a former chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority during the term of then President Benigno S. Aquino III.