MANILA, 13 February 2007 — A member of Sulu’s royalty was named the 12th senatorial candidate of the administration’s Team Unity for the Philippine mid-term elections in May.
The administrations slate’s surprise candidate was Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, heir to the royal Sultanate of Sulu, bringing to three the administration candidates representing the southern Philippine region of Mindanao.
In a radio interview, Presidential political affairs adviser Gabriel Claudio said Kiram had been “considered” for some time but Malacañang decided at the last minute to field him.
“This is a result of consultations with our leaders in Mindanao and within the administration coalition,” Claudio said in the interview.
Speculations at first said the 12th candidate would be a choice of either of actors Cesar Montano, Richard Gomez or Edu Manzano.
Kiram’s choice, Claudio said, would give a “voice to our Muslim brothers and sisters.”
“The administration, especially the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party, believed that an alliance with our Muslim brothers and sisters is needed to attain national unity,” Claudio added.
Claudio added that the completed administration lineup has “good balance in terms of qualification, track record, and personal political advocacies.”
