Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is top choice of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan among 22 senatorial aspirants in a party survey taken during its recent leadership assembly in Pasay City.
Pimentel, the party’s national president, received 175 votes from 184 respondents, composed of the Party’s national officers, national government officials, members of Congress, local government officials and party leaders representing the private sector.
The respondents were asked to choose from a list of 24 senatorial hopefuls, composed of PDP-Laban officials, friends of the party, and incumbent senators due for re-election in May next year.
President Rodrigo Duterte, who graced the occasion as party chairman, pledged his full support for the party and once again lauded PDP-Laban for being a “principled party” and encouraged its members to maintain the Party’s integrity.
The party has gained mass support, the President said, because public interest and good governance are always at the top of its agenda.
Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio came in second with 155 votes, followed by Special Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher “Bong” Go with 153 votes.
Sec. Francis Tolentino (125), Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, Davao City Congressman Karlo Alexei Nograles (116) and Senator Sonny Angara (112), occupied the fourth to sixth slots.
Former PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, now head of the National Bilibid Prison, came in seventh with 110 votes, followed by Sen. Cynthia Villar (103) and former senator and now Taguig representative Pia Cayetano (100).
Rounding out the top 13 positions were Maguindanao Cong. Zajid “Dong” Mangungudatu (95), Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque (87), and incumbent Senators JV Ejercito (85) and Grace Poe (85).