LP Senate slate: Tolentino, Bautista out; Lacson, Lapid son in

Liberal Party (LP) chairman President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III raises the hands of the administration Senate slate for the 2016 national elections during the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid: Ang Pagpapakilala at the Sala B of the Balay Expo Centro Building in EDSA corner McArthur Avenue, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City on Monday (October 12, 2015). Also in photo are LP Presidential Candidate former DILG Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II; and LP Vice Presidential Candidate Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo. (Photo from the Malacañang Photo Bureau/Joseph Vidal)

MANILA – The Liberal Party (LP) presented today its complete Senate line-up for next year’s national elections, naming Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, resigned Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Emmanuel “Joel” Villanueva and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) Director Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel among its senatorial candidates.

Also included in the LP’s list as guest candidates were former Senator Panfilo Lacson, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) general manager Mark Lapid, COOP Natcco party-list Representative Cresente Paez and Interior Assistant Secretary for Muslim Affairs and Special Concerns Nariman Ambolodto.

The political party earlier named Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senators Teofisto “TG” Guingona III and Ralph Recto and former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as its senatorial bets

Metro Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino was among those considered in the Senate slate but he begged off from the offer after being involved in a controversy with sexy female dancers.

“I’m urging the Liberal Party to remove my name among those they have been considering for their 2016 senatorial lineup,” he said in Filipino.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista was also an eyed LP senatorial candidate but he decided not to seek higher office in the coming general elections instead as he sought for reelection.

“I still have much to do in Quezon City. Several projects are still pending like the waste-to-energy project, the Philippine Diamond Tower and the Quezon City socialized housing project,” he said in an interview.