MANILA - Music icon Freddie Aguilar, journalist Jiggy Manicad and 18 others are being considered for inclusion in the PDP-Laban's Senate slate for the 2019 midterm elections, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said Thursday.

Pimentel, president of the party, told reporters in a text message that also among those eyed as PDP-Laban senatorial candidates are:

Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers
Negros Occidental Rep. Alfred Benitez
PBA party-list Rep. Carlos Nograles
Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu
Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman
Oriental Mindoro Rep. Rey Umali
Former senator Pia Cayetano

Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque
Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino
Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Margaux Uson
Former Interior Secretary Raffy Alunan

Senator Grace Poe
Senator Cynthia Villar
Senator Nancy Binay
Senator JV Ejercito
Senator Sonny Angara

Pimentel, who is up for re-election, said he was also among possible PDP-Laban bets.

Aguilar and Manicad are both members of PDP-Laban, he noted.

The party's senatorial slate may be finalized in August or September, said Pimentel. With a report from Zandro Ochona, ABS-CBN News