It seemed like it was a preview of a campaign rally in 2019 as rumored “senatoriables” appeared during the meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte with the Filipino community in Hong Kong.
Before addressing around 2,000 overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) there, Duterte introduced key personalities who might join the Senate race.
The President introduced his trusted aide, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, as his “favorite senator.”
His remarks drew cheers from the crowd as OFWs were seen waving banners with the statement saying “Go Na Yan.”
Presidential daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio also drew one of the loudest cheers when the President called her name.
The younger Duterte was seen smiling as she stood from her seat onstage to acknowledge the President’s greetings.
She had earlier warned her political enemies not to irritate her or she might run as senator.
A recent Social Weather Stations survey showed she was ninth place among possible senatoriables in 2019.
The chief executive also introduced Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos as the “Mutya ng Ilocandia.”
Marcos had earlier said that the uncertainty on the electoral protest of her brother, Bongbong, was making their family ponder about sending another Marcos to run for a national position.
Imee had been recently visible in public events as to what his brother described as feeling the political pulse in the country.
Another die-hard Duterte supporter, Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, seemed to have gotten Duterte’s approval after the President revealed that she was thinking of running for senator.
“Mocha, I think, is also running for senator,” Duterte said during his speech.
Uson was earlier endorsed by Sara and was even included on the list possible senatorial candidates of the ruling PDP-Laban.
Aside from them, the President also greeted Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano.
Bello had earlier dismissed that he would run for senator, citing his age.
Roque, who was earlier teased by the President on a possible Senate run, has said he doesn’t have the money to run a national campaign.
Tolentino and Cayetano, meanwhile, have yet to announce their political plans.