PDP pares down 24 picks

The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) will meet again this week to finalize its senatorial slate in next year’s mid-term polls, party president Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said yesterday.

The meeting is set for 31 August at a still undisclosed venue.

“We have to decide on what steps to take because we have 24 names, we should have clear ways on how to bring the number down,” said Pimentel during a radio interview.

Other names in the long list are Davao City Sara Duterte, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Rep. Carlo Nograles and presidential adviser Francis Tolentino.

“I will finalize with them first,” Pimentel said.

Among the senators seeking reelection with PDP are Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito and Sonny Angara.

“I saw for myself when I was the Senate President, they were really supportive. Give credit where credit is due,” Pimentel said.

He added the ruling party will continue its push for Federalism as he expressed hopes that Malacañang’s pronouncement that Federalism is just on a “power nap” will eventually result in a more vigorous campaign to inform the public about that form of government.

Pimentel said that if they fail to present Federalism in a plebiscite by 2019, he is willing to wait until the right time comes.