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.