LAGUNA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Former Interior and Local Government chief Rafael Alunan III completes the senatorial slate of President Rodrigo Duterte for May 2019.

This was confirmed when Alunan joined the campaign rally of PDP-Laban on Saturday, February 23, in Biñan City.

“Malaking karangalan to be part of the President’s team for May 2019,” Alunan told the audience. (It is an honor to part of the President’s team for May 2019.)

PDP-Laban president and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III told Rappler that Alunan was personally picked by Duterte. “Yes. Chosen by the President,” Pimentel said in a message.

In his endorsement for Alunan, Duterte said the former DILG chief is “a thinking guy.”

Alunan is running under Bagumbayan party of Senator Richard Gordon.

Alunan previously ran for senator in 2016 when he was endorsed by then Davao City mayor Duterte.

Duterte’s lineup of senatorial choices now includes the 5 PDP-Laban members which they call MaBaGoKoTo: former top cop Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte’s close aide Bong Go, Maguindanao 2nd District Representative Zajid Mangudadatu, Senator Pimentel, and former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino.

The guest candidates in the list are: Freddie Aguilar, Rafael Alunan, Sonny Angara, Pia Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Imee Marcos and Cynthia Villar.  – Rappler.com