THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is bracing for an influx of aspirants filing their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) and Certificates of Nomination and Certificates of Acceptance of Nomination (CON-CANs) during the last two days of the filing period at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel.
In a press briefing on late Sunday, Comelec chairman George Garcia said they are expecting a high number of candidates for senator and party-lists to flock to the venue today and tomorrow.
“We are already anticipating their influx in the last two days of our filing period,” Garcia said, adding that they will continue to accept COCs and CON-CANs beyond the 5 p.m. daily cut-off if the filers are already in the venue.
On the sixth day of the filing period, re-electionist Sen. Pia Cayetano (Nacionalista) and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo (Lakas-CMD) led the list of those who filed their COCs for senator.
The others who filed included former singer Jimmy Bondoc (PDP-Laban), Junbert Guigayuma (KKK), Ernesto Arellano (Katipunan), and Wilson Amad, Sixto Lagare, and John Escobar (independents).
Filing their CONAs were party-lists Pinoy Workers, API, Tupad, UGB, P3PWD, Epanaw Sambayanan, Edukasyon, Pusong Pinoy, SSS-GSIS Pensyonado, ACT Teachers, RAM, Tictok, PDYN, and Aral Patriots.
These bring the total numbers to 78 senatorial aspirants and 87 party-lists that have filed their bids for the 2025 midterm elections.
PARTY-LISTS
With 160 party-list organizations expected to file their CON-CANs, the Comelec warned those that have yet to do so that they risk being excluded in the raffle to determine their order of listing in the official ballot if they do not file their list of nominees.
The Comelec is set to hold the raffle for party-lists on October 18.
“We may exclude them from the raffle since it will be useless if they have no list of nominees that were filed,” Garcia said.
“They won’t have anyone to assume the seat if they win if they won’t have any nominees. If their names are included but they don’t have nominees, it will be useless,” he said.
BIKE RIDE
Prior to formalizing her re-election bid, Cayetano led a bike ride with some 150 cyclists from the Senate of the Philippines to the Manila Hotel.
She was joined by her youngest son, Lucas, and cyclists from the cities of Taguig, Manila, and Pasay.
In a statement, Cayetano said the bike ride was an act of her “staying true to her advocacies on sustainable transportation, and health and wellness.”
Cayetano, after filing her COC, stopped for a photo opportunity but shunned the customary media interview inside the Tent City.
3 SENATOR TULFOS?
Speaking to the media after filing his COC, Tulfo said he sees nothing wrong with the possibility of having three Tulfos in the Senate if he and his brother, Ben, win in the forthcoming polls.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo is serving his first term as senator, while Ben filed his COC for senator on Saturday.
Erwin and Ben ranked first and second in the latest Pulse Asia survey on the top 12 likely winning senatorial candidates in the 2025 midterm elections.
“As long as there is no law yet, then we let the people decide. If there is a law, then we stop. It has been discussed for the longest time,” said Erwin.
“Do we want 1 Tulfo, 2 Tulfos, 3 Tulfos? Do we want 1 Duterte, 2 Dutertes, 3 Dutertes? 1 Marcos, 2 Marcoses, 3 Marcoses? We let the people decide. The power is with the people, because we don’t have a law,” he added.
Erwin is part of the senatorial ticket of the Marcos administration’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, while Ben is running as an independent candidate.
Asked if he would be willing to push for an anti-dynasty law in the Senate in case he wins, Erwin said he is open to it.
“We will have to look at the form of the anti-dynasty law. If it’s for the benefit of the whole nation, why not?” he said.
Erwin officially joined the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) last Friday, becoming the party’s 112th member in the House of Representatives.
Tulfo, the deputy majority Leader for communications, took his oath before Speaker Martin Romualdez, the party’s president, who said the former broadcaster, who also became a social welfare secretary, is “a tremendous asset to both our party and the nation, embodying not only seasoned public service but also courage and integrity.”
Erwin said he and Ben decided to join next year’s senatorial race to be in better positions to help the public.
“This is a free country. We said to ourselves, if you wanna run, so be it. It’s hard to prevent someone from running. And we can also help more if we have the numbers,” he said.
In a statement, Romualdez said: “Cong. Erwin’s track record speaks for itself, and we are honored to welcome him into Lakas-CMD. His fearless advocacy for the underprivileged and commitment to improving the lives of ordinary Filipinos make him a perfect fit for our mission of nation-building.”
The House chief expressed optimism that Tulfo’s membership will bring fresh energy to the party at a critical time for governance.
“As the newest member of Lakas-CMD in the House, Cong. Erwin strengthens our commitment to public service. His no-nonsense approach is exactly what we need as we push for reforms and transparent governance,” Romualdez said. “His voice will play a crucial role in advancing our legislative agenda, and we are confident that his influence will help uplift the lives of every Filipino.”
‘BEST OF THE DUTERTE PRINCIPLES’
Bondoc, who is running under PDP-Laban, said he wants to push for the “best of the Duterte principles” if he wins as senator.
He said he believes that former President Rodrigo Duterte only had the welfare of the public in mind.
“As his friend, I am very certain that our former president only has the best interest of the people in mind,” said Bondoc.
“He is my friend. And one of my main missions is to solidify the best of the best of the Duterte principles,” he added.
Asked if he will be a member of the administration or the opposition if elected as senator, the former singer said it depends on the circumstances.
“I believe in pursuing policies instead of pure party-lines. So, while I’m loyal to PDP-Laban, I will also be loyal to the best policies,” he said.
Sen. Robin Padilla, who is the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) president, accompanied Bondoc in filing his COC.
GUANZON STEALS THE SHOW
Former poll commissioner Rowena Guanzon yesterday briefly stole the show at the sixth day of COC filing, speaking for more than the 10 minutes allowed for each individual candidate and party-list organizations to face the media.
For 32 minutes, Guanzon, who is a nominee of the Komunidad ng Pamilya Pasyente at Persons with Disabilities (P3PWD party-list), spoke out in a mix of rant and answers to media questions.
The P3PWD party-list was among those that filed their Ce rtificates of Nomination and Certificates of Acceptance of Nomination (CON-CANs) on Sunday.
Aside from having an extended stage time, Guanzon also caused a stir after coming to the interview stage inside the Tent City on a wheelchair, prompting the Comelec and Manila Hotel personnel to put up a ramp for PWD accessibility.
During her time on stage, however, she managed to stand up numerous times for the photo opportunities, as well in the middle of her speech.
Guanzon also exited the interview stage walking, and even managed to shake the hands of several media people.
LOCAL RACE
Senate minority leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III yesterday filed his COC for representative of the first district of Marikina City.
Pimentel, who will step down as senator in 2025 after completing two consecutive six-year terms, vowed to address the city’s perennial flood problems and revive its shoe industry.
He said he also intends to find ways to address floodings in the city but did not elaborate.
The senator likewise said he will address the city government’s debts, which he said is one of the highest among cities in the country.
Pimentel said he will present himself as an alternative choice to outgoing Marikina city mayor Marcelino Teodoro, who filed his COC for first district representative last Saturday.
Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin has also filed her COC, seeking reelection as representative of the province’s first district.
“Ipagpapatuloy natin ang pagbibigay ng dekalidad na serbisyong publiko para sa ating mga kapwa Ilonggo at buong sambayanang Pilipino (We’ll continue to give quality public service to our fellow Ilonggos and to the whole Filipino nation),” said the former health secretary who is also a House deputy majority leader.
The veteran lawmaker, who is a physician by profession, also vowed to continue championing health-related programs to ensure the health and well-being of the Filipinos.
Garin has authored and co-authored a number of bills since she took office, including the Department of Health Specialty Centers Act, Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and E-Governance Act.
She was also one of the authors of the newly passed law, the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers.
In Camarines Sur, Rep. Gabriel Bordado Jr. has also officially filed his COC, running for vice mayor of Naga City in tandem with former vice president Leni Robredo who is seeking the city’s mayoralty post under the Team Naga 2025 ticket.
Bordado, a former councilor and vice mayor of the city, said he aims to bring his “legislative expertise and leadership skills back to the local government.”
Robredo’s husband, the late interior secretary Jesse Robredo, was a long-time mayor of Naga City who became a Ramon Magsaysay awardee for government service in 2000.
The Team Naga 2025 slate includes a lineup of experienced public servants and professionals, including incumbent and former city councilors, lawyers, a dentist, a retired police general, and community leaders who said they are aiming “to uphold Naga’s legacy of people-centered governance and sustainable development.”
Team Naga 2025’s candidates for councilors are Ghiel Rosales, Jessie Albeus, Melvin Ramon Buenafe, Gayle Abonal-Gomez, Jose Perez, Elmer Baldemoro, Mila Raquid-Arroyo, Vito Borja, Francisco Mendoza, and Ariez Macaraig.
POLICE VIGILANCE
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has ordered police units throughout the country to intensify their vigilance, especially against armed groups, which may disrupt next year’s polls.
“With the political climate heating up, our role is critical in ensuring a secure and fair environment for all candidates and the public,” Marbil said in a statement yesterday.
“I am directing all police units to intensify security operations, especially in traditional election hotspots where tensions often escalate,” he also said.
He added the PNP will focus its attention to areas that have a history of election-related violence, adding that additional security measures would be adopted by police units, including increased police visibility, establishment of checkpoints in strategic areas, and enhanced intelligence monitoring.
“We are putting extra attention on regions that have seen heightened activity from armed groups and criminal elements. We will not allow any threats to undermine the democratic process. Our primary objective is to prevent any form of violence or intimidation,” Marbil said as he again urged the public to remain vigilant and report to authorities any suspicious activities.
“Let us all work together to ensure a peaceful and orderly election process. The success of these elections depends not just on the police but on the cooperation of every Filipino citizen,” he said.
The PNP Public Information Office said that “all necessary precautions are in place, with police units nationwide on high alert and prepared to respond swiftly to any incidents that may arise during the electoral period.”
Marbil also reiterated his warning to policemen against engaging in partisan political activity in the elections.
“Any officer found engaging in political interference or supporting candidates will face severe sanctions. Our integrity is non-negotiable, and we must uphold the rule of law at all times,” he said. — With Wendell Vigilia, Raymond Africa and Victor Reyes
