MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is endorsing at least 17 senatorial candidates in the May elections, most of whom are part of the PDP-Laban aligned with him and the UniTeam tandem of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Duterte, during his speech at the PDP-Laban proclamation rally in Cebu on Thursday, said he is supporting the following senatorial aspirants:

• former PACC chief Greco Belgica
• former House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano
• Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero
• former senator Jinggoy Estrada
• former senator JV Ejercito
• former senator Gringo Honasan
• broadcaster Rey Langit
• Deputy House Speaker Loren Legarda
• House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta
• actor Robin Padilla
• former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador “Sal” Panelo
• former Energy Undersecretary Astra Pimentel
• former Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque
• former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro
• Senator Joel Villanueva
• former DPWH Secretary Mark Villar
• Senator Miguel Zubiri

Among those Duterte named, only Belgica, Langit, Marcoleta, Padilla, Panelo, and Pimentel are part of the PDP-Laban Cusi wing's slate.

• #Halalan2022: Cusi group to formally proclaim Sara Duterte PDP-Laban VP bet

Meanwhile, Jinggoy Estrada, Honasan, Legarda, Roque, Teodoro, Villar, and Zubiri are part of the UniTeam senatorial lineup.

Duterte did not formally endorse former Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones during the event, who is on the slate of PDP-Laban.

He mentioned Castriciones, though, whom he designated to oversee the distribution of land titles to former rebels.

"He’s not here right now. I distributed about 100,000 plus. All the government-owned lands, I really gave it all. I’ve distributed about 300,000 land titles," he said of the official.

• Robin Padilla not part of UniTeam slate despite Duterte-Carpio endorsement
• #Halalan2022: Sen. Villanueva says Duterte endorsing his reelection bid

Duterte reiterated in the same event that he was not endorsing a candidate for president.

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv