PRESIDENTIAL aspirant Miriam Defensor-Santiago and her running mate, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said Thursday they will field 12 senatorial candidates in next year’s elections.
Marcos told a breakfast meeting at the Senate they were close to completing their senatorial lineup.
“We’re getting there. We are trying to decide how to handle it—the usual system which is division,” Marcos said.
Marcos said the candidates will include Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno.
“I have also proposed that [Sarangani Rep.] Manny Pacquiao join us. We have proposed many other candidates, but Senator Miriam also wants her own [candidates to the Senate],” Marcos said.
“That’s why we have to discuss. I think it would be better if we agreed on the 12 rather than both of us having our own six [senatorial candidates].”
Romualdez and Pacquiao also belong to the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay. Moreno is a shared candidate of Senator Grace Poe’s Partido Galing at Puso and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.
Marcos said the name of OFW advocate Toots Ople, who is included in Poe’s senatorial slate, also came up. He said there were other names but he could not reveal them yet.
Marcos said they would be advocating good governance.
“And then we like to be specific about our view on the present state of the country—what problems we are facing and how those problems may be solved and what will be the approach.”
Marcos said they still had no slogan.
“None, but it might be ‘High Blood’ because I and Senator Miriam have high blood if we see weak and incompetent [leaders] in the government.”
Marcos said all the candidates for vice president were worthy opponents.
“I know all of them. They are all good politicians. They all have good records to show for themselves. They are all worthy opponents. We approach it in that way.”