Senatorial hopefuls share HK stage with Rody
HONG KONG – Some personalities who are reportedly eyeing a Senate run got a foretaste of campaigning for the 2019 midterm polls during President Duterte’s meeting with the Filipino community here the other night.
Speaking before the Filipino community, the President called his longtime aide Christopher Go his “favorite senator.” Some supporters of Go are asking him to run but the presidential aide has not made a decision. Go, however, has been sending photos and videos of himself to reporters, fueling speculation that he is keen on running for the Senate.
Even before Duterte’s arrival, the event showed the key elements of a sortie: yelling supporters, banners, enthusiastic introductions and
prominent personalities highlighting their achievements.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr., presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos were given their moment to shine as each of them took the stage to speak before about 2,500 Filipinos.
The President also claimed that controversial Presidential Communications Operations Office assistant secretary Mocha Uson wants to become a senator, drawing cheers from the Filipino community. There was no immediate comment from Uson.
Duterte is also said to be considering journalist Ramon Tulfo, who again joined the presidential delegation. Tulfo reportedly worked for the appointment of his sister Wanda Teo as tourism secretary.
In his speech, Bello praised the overseas Filipino workers’ determination to improve the lives of their families and credited them for their dollar remittances that keep the Philippine economy afloat.
Roque talked about the bills he supported when he was still in Congress and bashed media outlets South China Morning Post, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Rappler for writing negative stories about Duterte. He even asked the audience to jeer at the news organizations and to defend Duterte from his critics.
Cayetano talked about her legislative accomplishments and her pet bills including the legalization of divorce, which is being opposed by the Roman Catholic Church, the religious group of more than 80 percent of Filipinos.
Marcos urged Filipinos here to support the Duterte administration and to spread good news about the government through social networking sites.
Tolentino talked about “hashtag second chance” as he mentioned his electoral defeat during the 2016 senatorial race. Tolentino, who served as Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman during the previous administration, ranked 13th among the senatorial candidates. –