LP and UNA senatorial bets join Santiago-Marcos slate

MANILA, Philippines – The tandem of Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr finally unveiled their senatorial line up on Saturday, February 13. 

Former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief Francis Tolentino is among the 10-person senatorial ticket of the Santiago-Marcos tandem.

Tolentino was supposed to be under the ruling party’s slate but later withdrew after being involved in a viral video that featured dancing “show girls” during a local gathering. (READ: Tolentino: Exclude me from Senate slate)

The controversial performance, where the girls belonging to the group “Playgirls” gyrated and twerked onstage with male audience members, was held after the oath taking of new members of the Liberal Party in Laguna.

Other members of the slate are guest candidates from both the administration and the opposition tickets. 

Santiago will share former energy secretary Jericho Petilla and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director Joel Villanueva with the Liberal Party (LP).

Ralph Recto, who is both under the LP and Senator Grace Poe’s Puso at Galing ng Pilipino (PGP) team, is also part of the newly-announced slate. 

Those from the United Nationalist Alliance’s (UNA) slate are House lawmakers Manny Pacquiao and Martin Romualdez. Romualdez, Marcos’ cousin, joined him in his sorties in Ilocos during the first week of the campaign.

Besides Recto, other candidates under Poe’s team who will join Santiago’s slate are actor Edu Manzano, overseas Filipino worker (OFW) advocate Susan Ople, and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno. 

Independent candidate Dionisio Santiago, a former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, completes the slate. 

The team will be introduced on Sunday, February 14, during the launch of Santiago’s coalition of youth volunteers at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. – Rappler.com