BIÑAN CITY, LAGUNA - Former Interior Secretary Raffy Alunan is the latest addition to the senatorial lineup of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Alunan completes the 12-man slate of the President, which is composed of five members of the ruling party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), and 7 guest candidates.

PDP-Laban President, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, confirmed to ABS-CBN News that Alunan secured the endorsement of the President.

“Yes. Alunan is 12th in PRRD's list. They are friends and bilib si PRRD kay Alunan,” Pimentel told ABS-CBN News in a text message.

Alunan himself told the audience during the PDP-Laban rally in Biñan, Laguna that he is glad to be included in the President’s slate.

“Isa pong malaking karangalan to be part of the president’s team for May 2019,” Alunan said.

Alunan served as tourism secretary during the time of the late President Corazon Aquino and as interior secretary during the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos.

The President was scheduled to visit Biñan City, Laguna on Saturday afternoon to court the votes of some 1.6 million registered voters in the province. On Sunday, he will endorse his bets in Cebu City, Cebu, a province that is home to a whopping 2.7 million voters.

The two events are hosted by the ruling party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan, which is chaired by the President. But the ruling party has opened its doors to 7 guest candidates in deference to President Duterte.

The PDP-Laban candidates include reelectionist Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, former police chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, former special assistant to the president Christopher “Bong” Go, Maguindanao Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, and former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino.

The non-PDP-Laban members being endorsed by the President are reelectionist Senators JV Ejercito, Sonny Angara and Cynthia Villar, Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, and folk singer Freddie Aguilar, who belongs to the other faction of PDP-Laban.