Poe-Chiz’s ‘unifying’ senatorial slate

It took two months for Senators Grace Poe and Chiz Escudero to complete their senatorial line-up despite being the first tandem to announce their candidacy.

A last minute change results into the dropping of former Senator Panfilo Lacson from the senate slate. – Rappler.com

They were the first tandem to announce their candidacy, but it took Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero almost tw months to finally complete their senatorial lineup, which Poe calls a unifying slate, which will push for the political agenda of the tandem.

Even then, there are last minute changes to the lineup with the dropping of former senator Panfilo Lacson from the slate

Supporters flock to Club Filipino for the formal announcement of the complete senate slate of Poe and Escudero, which they call Partido ng Galing at Puso, a play on Grace Poe’s initials.

It was no easy feat, as Poe says they had to study each and every candidate’s background and stand on national issues.

GRACE POE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, creating a senatorial slate is not by force.

Ace Durano, the coalition’s campaign manager, explains the late announcement since the tandem had to assess them.

ACE DURANO, POE-CHIZ CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Senator Grace and Senator Chiz spoke to each candidate to really see if they fit, if they match with the party. So it took time. 

The road to the announcement was not paved in gold – names had to be withdrawn, ties had to be cut. 

 Lacson, who was supposedly part of the slate, was dropped from the lineup last minute. While Poe supposedly told Lacson it is Edu Manzano who is replacing him, Manzano denies this.

The actor claims he was part of the slate since a month ago. In the end, Toots Ople is in.

As independent candidates, half of Poe and Escudero’s slate is made up of guest candidates.

These bets may prove to be crucial to the tandem. After all, the recent Social Weather Stations survey in September shows only 4 from their slate are in the top 12, all of them guest candidates.

How will the party define its campaign…when some of their bets have openly declared support for other presidential and vice candidates?

Camille Elemia, Rappler, San Juan.