By Ben Rosario
The Nacionalista Party will limit its support to its three senatorial candidates who won the backing of the country’s current top political endorsers, President Rodrigo Duterte and daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Pia Cayetano and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos will get the solid backing of the NP political organization throughout the country having been listed as the only party bets in the 2019 senatorial race.
Nacionalista Party senatorial candidates (L-R) Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Sen. Cynthia Villar, and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Pia Cayetano (MANILA BULLETIN)
All three NP bets have also been included in list of 11 senatorial bets that President Duterte endorsed in San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan on Thursday.
Mayor Duterte’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago has listed them among the 13 candidates that the new political coalition endorsed.
“We are NP. At kami naman po ay dala ng Hugpong. Dala rin po kami ni President Duterte,” said Villar during an interview in Lubao Pampanga last Friday.
Hinting strong political ties with Duterte, Villar disclosed that NP candidates for governor, congressman and mayor also have the backing of the chief executive.
During the Bulacan campaign rally, Duterte vowed to support Villar’s husband, former Senate President Manuel Villar should he make another run for the presidency.
However, Sen. Villar said the former senator, who also once held the speakership in the Lower House, still does not have any plan to seek the presidency, according to his wife.
“Mahirap na pinaplano mo ang buhay na maging presidente tapos hindi mo naman pala destiny maging president,” she stressed. (If’s difficult to plan a life of becoming a president only to find out that it’s not your destiny to become one.”)
The re-electionist senator added: “Let us just do what we like to do.” #MatalinongBoto2019