MMDA chair Francis Tolentino FILE PHOTO
DAVAO CITY鈥擶ill Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino run for senator in the upcoming elections?
Tolentino on Friday聽declined聽to give a direct answer but said he was 鈥渏ust waiting for the confirmation of the President.鈥�
Reacting to rumors that he would join the senatorial race under the Liberal Party, Tolentino said: 鈥淭here is no announcement yet. But I鈥檓 studying it.鈥�
鈥�Baka may maitulong din ako (Maybe I can do something to help),鈥� he added in jest.
Alongside LP standard-bearer and Interior Secretary Manuel 鈥淢ar鈥� Roxas II, Tolentino was a guest speaker during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines event at Grand Regal Hotel in Davao City.
鈥淢aybe you鈥檙e asking about Leila (de Lima). I鈥檓 just fulfilling my role here (in the event),鈥� he said.
Talks are also rife that De Lima will run for a Senate seat in 2016.
It is not the first time Tolentino has been seen with Roxas in a public event. The MMDA chair is a frequent guest in Philippine National Police events which are attended by Roxas.
But Tolentino said it was only by chance that he saw the Department of Interior and Local Government secretary at the LMP event.
鈥淲e just saw each other here. We actually went here on separate flights,鈥� he said.
Asked to comment on Tolentino鈥檚 possible run for the Senate, Roxas said: 鈥淲hy not?鈥�
鈥�Pinuri ko siya dahil sa magandang trabaho na pinakita niya at kung mamarapatin at pagpapasyahan ni Chairman Tolentino na nais niyang lumahok sa pagka-Senado, nasa sa kanya na iyon,鈥� Roxas told reporters in a separate interview. Julliane Love de Jesus/RC