Admin senatorial lineup still in the works, says senatoriable
Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor said the administration will probably make public the entire senatorial slate of the administration on February 12 to avoid counter negotiations from the opposition party.
The inclusion of Senator Tito Sotto and Tessie Oreta in the administration is not yet final, he said.
Defensor, himself a sure candidate of the administration for the senatorial race said the list of the senatorial wannabes are being "kept under wraps" by Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio. Only Claudio and other top political advisers knew who are to be included in the administration ticket and not even the candidates have the idea except those who are already assured of their inclusion in the administration party.
The finalization of all the administration candidates is subject of a joint deliberation of three political parties, the Liberal Party (LP), Lakas-CMD and the KAMPI, the President's political party.
However, Defensor said, he personally sees no problem if the administration will approve the entry of former senators Sotto and Oreta.
He said, the President wants to "heal all wounds."
"If this is way to solve the divisiveness, then so be it," Defensor said despite admitting that talks on Sotto and Oreta joining the administration party created different reactions from their party members.
Aside from the fear of counter-offers, the administration prompted not to release early the names of their candidates as they still have to thresh out the problems involving LP candidates. There are number of would be candidates in this May political exercise who are members of the LP.
Currently, there are two LP groups in the country, one is headed by Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon and the other one is with the group formed by Mayor Lito Atienza. The Supreme Court (SC) has yet to decide on who is the legal group. Defensor is also a member of LP-Atienza wing.
The SC should decide on it so that political candidates who could not get their nomination from LP can go to another roof to get their nomination for them to run in any elective positions they wish to run, said Defensor.
Meanwhile, Defensor said the recent issuance of dismissal orders of Ombudsman to different governors and other officials only created "heated political climate." The Ombudsman orders are administered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and there is a sure violence and resistance from the suspended officials especially that May elections is already near. "There is a question of timing in the issuance of dismissal orders."
There are three members of the LP who are subject of the suspension orders and we appealed to Ombudsman to delay the implementation of the suspension orders. They should impose the suspension orders after election, said Defensor.