By Quian Vencel Galut

PHOTO: Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan’s current and unofficial senatorial slate for 2022 elections includes up to seven Cabinet secretaries, one of the party’s executives said on Monday.

In their party’s senatorial slate which is chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte, PDP-Laban Secretary General Melvin Matibag stated there are still “more than 20” names that are included in the said list.



Matibag said that six to seven are Cabinet secretaries, two to three of them are re-electionists, and another two to three are returning as senators. There are also governors and congressmen running in the said senatorial lineup.

As the party has nearly finalized the list, Matibag did not disclose the names of the possible people who will run.

“By September 8 or a few days after that date,” Matibag released the possible date to finalize the official list for senatorial line-up of PDP-Laban.

Asked for a date for the final senatorial line-up of PDP-Laban, Matibag said the party hopes to have an official list “by September 8 or few days after that date.”

Duterte has urged several of his Cabinet members to run for a senatorial seat in the 2022 national elections, this was mentioned slightly during his weekly addresses that are aired nationwide.

Duterte endorsed his chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo, who was his “favorite candidate for senator” for the 2022 elections.



In a taped briefing in July, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade was asked by President Duterte to run for senator. Alongside, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar also received the same request.

Matibag replied with a praying emoji after he was asked if those are among the names included in their list.