Gatchalian confirms inclusion in Pacquiao Eleksyon 2022 Senate slate

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday confirmed that presidential aspirant and Senator Manny Pacquiao has included him in the latter’s senatorial slate for Eleksyon 2022.

“I do confirm that I am a guest candidate also in the Pacquiao’s slate,” Gatchalian said in an ANC interview.

In an ambush interview Monday, Pacquiao disclosed that Gatchalian and former Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito are included in the senatorial lineup.

“Actually napupuno na ‘yung lineup ko kasi nandito na sa amin, sumama sa amin si Gatchalian. At tiyak nandiyan pa si JV,” Pacquiao said.

(Actually, my lineup is getting full because Gatchalian and JV joined us.)

So far, Pacquiao said he has seven guest candidates in his senatorial lineup.

Gatchalian, who will run for reelection under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), is also one of the senatorial candidates of the tandem of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who are seeking the presidency and vice presidency, respectively.

Asked whether he will seek the endorsement of vice presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Gatchalian said: “I don’t want to preempt Mayor Sara on this matter. I would wait for the announcement of their team just like in the slate of Manny Pacquiao.”

In October, Pacquiao bared 10 senatorial bets who will be running under his ticket in Eleksyon 2022.

The list includes:

• Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
• Senator Joel Villanueva
• Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero
• Antique Representative Loren Legarda
• Former Vice President Jejomar Binay
• Broadcaster Raffy Tulfo
• Former Samar Governor Lutgardo Barbo
• Senator Richard Gordon
• Labor leader Elmer Labog
• Former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares

On the other hand, Gatchalian said President Rodrigo Duterte’s Senate run has “dramatically” changed the race for top 12.

“He changed the landscape of the top 12, the whole Senate ranking dramatically,” he said.

“Definitely with his popularity, with his approval rating, his approval rating is still at the 70s level and that's good for a President in his last term. And definitely he will probably land in the top six in my forecast,” he added.

On November 15, Duterte filed a certificate of candidacy to run for senator under Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) through the substitution route. — Hana Bordey/RSJ, GMA News