MANILA, Philippines – The Liberal Party (LP) on Tuesday night drafted former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacon as guest candidate in the administration ticket.
Reports said Lacson’s inclusion was sealed after a closed door meeting of LP standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Senate President Franklin Drilon.
Some LP stalwarts opposed Lacson’s inclusion because of his critical stand against some policies of the Aquino administration. However, he was still drafted in LP’s senatorial slate.
The LP is currently finishing its senatorial lineup for the announcement scheduled on Friday in its headquarters in Balay, Cubao, Quezon City.
Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo disclosed that LP already picked Sens. Drilon and Ralph Recto, former Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva and former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.
Other aspiring candidates being evaluated by the administration party are Quezon City Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista; Philhealth Director and former Akbayan Party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros; Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) general manager and Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid; Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno.