Former Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has endorsed him as a guest candidate for senator of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the May 2022 elections.

In a statement, Piñol said the President’s endorsement came only during the past three days since he filed his certificate of candidacy on October 8 under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

Duterte’s endorsement was announced on Monday (Oct. 11) following the President’s meeting with religious leader Apollo Quiboloy in this city.

Piñol is the second guest candidate of the PDP-Laban slate. The other is former Public Works Secretary Mark Villar of the Nacionalista Party.

Piñol has resigned from his post on October 5 to run as a senator next year.

He thanked President Duterte “for the opportunity to serve the country.”

“We’ve had differences in the Cabinet over policies, but we have remained friends,” Piñol said.

He rejoined his old party, NPC, under standard-bearers Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Tito Sotto when he was snubbed by other slates.

Piñol thanked the President for his endorsement, saying his friendship with the Chief Executive has never changed.

“Although I questioned the economic policies of his economic managers, especially on Rice Tariffication Law, he respected my position and we remained friends,” he said.

“I may have lost the battle in the Cabinet, but having been vindicated after rice prices increased, I plan to win the war at the Senate,” Piñol added.

PDP-Laban’s senatorial slate includes Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, PACC Chairman Greco Belgica, and Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gringo Honasan. (PNA)