Petilla mum on inclusion in LP’s senatorial slate

MANILA, Philippines — Former Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla remained silent on his inclusion in the Liberal Party’s (LP) senatorial picks for the 2016 polls.

Petilla said there are 16 names and five backup prospects submitted to President Benigno Aquino III, and the list is yet to be finalized by the administration by the end of the month.

“Am I included in the list? I cannot comment because I will be preempting them,” Petilla said.

Petilla, also a former governor of Leyte, said he cannot disclose the names included in the senatorial lineup of LP as he is not part of the selection committee.

He added that the LP proves that their party has an oversupply of prospective candidates unlike other political parties that want to gain more members.

Petilla said that even if he does not make the cut in the LP’s list he will not harbor ill feelings.

“You don’t run because you want a position, you run because you have a cause,” Petilla said, in response to a question regarding his backup plan if he fails to be drafted as a Senate candidate.

“Whatever happens to the election, win or lose the cause will have to remain the same. If you don’t believe in your cause, don’t run because this is a difficult job,” he added.

Asked if a regional bloc vote from Eastern Visayas could bring him to the Senate, Petilla replied that “there is no single region that can propel a candidate; you have to rely on many other regions. But certainly, a solid regional vote is a big boost.”

Petilla earlier expressed intentions of being included in the senatorial slate of LP for the 2016 elections. In late April, he resigned as the energy secretary but served until he was temporarily replaced by Department of Energy Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada in July.

In 2007, Petilla also planned to run for senator under former president and current Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but he backed out.