04 BUHAY OVERSEAS ISSUE 119 | www.filipinonews.nz | email: filipinonews@xtra.co.nz | GIVE US A CALL : 027 495 8477 MANILA - The Philippine Commission on Elections (COM- ELEC) and the Philippine National Police may have reported a generally peaceful and orderly filing of Certificates of Candidacy from October 11 to 17, but this only hides the intensity which will dominate the midterm elections next year. The Philippine senate will be the arena where President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP- Laban) will square off with the Vice President Leni Robredo’s Liberal Party (LP). Ever since wrestling the presidency from the LP in 2016 Duterte has been vocal against the Liberals. DUTERTE, LP IN ‘INTENSE’ SENATE BATTLE IN 2019 By SAM BAUTISTA F i l i p i n o M i g r a n t N e w s M a n i l a C o r r e s p o n d e n t Even blaming a number of its members for coddling drug kingpins in exchange for huge commissions or kickbacks. Duterte’s administration has successfully placed behind bars an elected senator - Leila de Lima - for allegedly being the shabu (metamphetamine hydrochloride) Cayetano, 5 Cabinet members eye 2019 polls queen of the New Bilibid Prison. Since 2016 Duterte and the PDP-Laban have accumulated majorities in both Houses of Congress mainly through turncoats. Next year’s mid-term elections will determine whether Duterte’s 14 million votes can be channeled to support the 8- man PDP official lineup, composed of former senate president Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel III, to the President Christopher 'Bong' Go, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano John Castriciones and Technical Education MANILA – “Foreign Affairs and Skills Development Secretary Alan Peter Caye-tano Authority (TESDA) Director and five other Cabinet officials are seeking local and national posts in next year’s mid-term elections,” said President Rodrigo R. Duterte. Duterte said that Cayetano might run for congressman in his hometown in Taguig City. General Guiling Mamondiong as other Cabinet members who may be vacating their posts. Duterte said that should his top aide decide to run as senator, he would want a woman to replace him. - By Azer Parrocha, PNA He also named Special Assistant MANILA – Ilocos Norte Governor Maria Josefa Imelda 'Imee' Marcos vowed to represent people from the provinces as she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator. “We should also understand the locals, especially those living in the provinces, farmers and also OFWs. Somebody should represent them in the Senate. A new voice.” She said that she is unfazed by the negative impression of many Filipinos of her family. “If I was worried, then I wouldn't be here. But now, I think there has been a change in the understanding of what happened in the past. So I think that the new generation, President Duterte with Christopher ‘Bong’ Go. Foto: Avito C. Dalan, PNA particularly so called the millennial generation, (is) ready to hear our side of the story,” Marcos said. She is running under the Nacionalista Party banner. Marcos served as representative of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007. She was elected Ilocos Special Assistant to the President presidential spokesman Harry Roque and Makati Rep. Monsour del Rosario. Four other names are included in the PDP- Laban led ad-ministration coalition. Meanwhile, the LP was also successful in consolidating its forces enough to come up with its own 8- man slate led by defeated 2016 presidential candidate Manuel 'Mar' Roxas II. Roxas played runner up to Duterte in the presidential race. On the unofficial Facebook page of LP supporters, The Silent Majority, members claim to have 16 million votes to propel Roxas to the number one slot this time. Others in the LP lineup are: Magdalo party list Rep. Gary Alejano, reelectioneer Senator Paolo Benigno 'Bam' Aquino IV, lawyer ' There are 150 aspirants to the senate and another 185 party list groups vying for the expected two million overseas votes in 2019. The Comelec is expected to trim this number down as it eliminates 'nuisance candidates' by December. Imee files Senate bid; vows to be 'voice' of provinces Immee Marcos with former senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. Foto: Avito C. Dalan Norte governor thrice - in 2010, 2013 and 2016. Meanwhile, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Pia Cayetano is making a comeback at the Senate as she also filed her COC for the May 2019 mid-term polls. “When it comes to my actions, I think that my record speaks for itself. When I was in the Senate I fought for the reproductive health bill,” she added. “Look at my track record. I will continue to fight for women, for health care.” Cayetano said. By Ferdinand Patinio, PNA. Duterte endorses folk singer Freddie Aguilar MANILA - President Rodrigo R. Duterte expressed confidence that folk singer Freddie Aguilar would make a good senatorial contender, urging Filipinos to give him a chance by voting for him in next year’s mid-term elections. Duterte described Aguilar as a “nationalist”, since all his songs carry a social message. “Freddie is running for senator. Wala akong hiningi sa inyo, kung hindi just consider. He is a brilliant man, of course he can talk in English. But he’s a singer--that is a profession. Lahat ng kanta niya, there is a social message,” Duterte said. “Kaya ako nakikiusap, tutal dose man ‘yan, ibigay ninyo sa isang nationalist. Yung isang taong nagmamahal sa bayan,” he added. Duterte said that Aguilar, known for his hit songs 'Anak', 'Magdalena' and 'Bulag, Pipi, at Bingi, among others, has written lyrics which have “several messages for Filipinos to remember”. “Tulungan natin si Freddie, because he is one exemplary, nationalist guy. He is my friend, he’s a brilliant guy, he can talk and he can help the country,” Duterte said. Duterte also expressed admiration for Aguilar’s 'protest songs' which he said were meant for “everybody to hear”, including the government. “It is seldom that a person dedicate(s) his songs in Tagalog, in our native tongue. Listen very carefully, they are really protest songs for everybody to hear, (even the government - our shortcomings),” Duterte said. “I admit it, we’re doing a lot of things, but still we have fallen short of the expectations of our country, but we will continue what we are doing," he added. On Oct. 11 Aguilar came to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) head office in Intramuros, Manila, to file his certificate of candidacy under administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino- Lakas ng Bayan (PDP- Laban). However, Aguilar, a known supporter of the President, was not on the PDP-Laban’s list of senatorial candidates. The six senatorial candidates under PDP-Laban are former Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald dela Rosa, former Special Assistant to the President Christopher 'Bong' Go, Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Zajid 'Dong' Mangudadatu, Senator Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel III, former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and former Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino. - By Azer Parrocha, PNA
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