Sotto: Ilocos Norte Gov. Marcos, Senator Aquino may both be included in NPC Senate slate for 2019

(Eagle News) — Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and Senator Bam Aquino may both be included in the Nationalist People’s Coalition senatorial lineup for 2019.

This is according to Senate President Tito Sotto, who spoke to reporters on Thursday, Aug. 23, when asked if the party would back only one of the two.

The Marcoses are known political rivals of the Aquinos.

“I cannot answer that. There is a possibility na kung magusap-usap kaming members ng NPC, pumayag sila lahat. There is a possibility na pwede silang magkasama doon sa susuportahan namin,” Sotto, senior party official, said.

Sotto cited as an example Senator JV Ejercito and his half-brother former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who are both included in the party’s initial ticket.

Apart from  Estrada and Ejercito, Senators  Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Koko Pimentel, Sonny Angara; Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano; Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, former Senator Lito Lapid, and former Police chief Ronaldo Dela Rosa were included in the NPC’s initial list released by Sotto earlier.

“Kaya nga sabi ko aabot ng 15 yan kasi merong mag technicalities na inayos pa namin, like for example, if there are members who would like to include Governor Imee in the lineup, or there are members who would like to include Senator bam in the lineup,” he said.