FORMER presidential aspirants Jejomar Binay and Gilbert Teodoro, along with human rights lawyers Chel Diokno and Neri Colmenares, yesterday filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for senator in next year’s elections.
Binay, 78, who served as vice president of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III but failed in his bid for the presidency in 2016, filed his candidacy at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) banner.
In a statement, he said: “I have been in public service for more than 30 years. This is what I will offer to our people. We have done a lot for our fellow Filipinos. We can do more, and we should do more.”
Teodoro, a former defense secretary and presidential candidate in 2010, filed his COC under the People’s Reform Part through a representative because he is isolation after testing positive for COVID-19.
Diokno filed his COC under the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) banner while Colmenares is running for the Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan).
Since October 1, 57 aspirants have filed COCs for president, 16 for vice president, and 92 for senator. A total of 194 party-list organizations have also joined the race.
The Commission on Elections said it is ready to extend operations during the final day of the filing of COCs today if there are still aspirants within the vicinity of the venues at the close of office hours.
PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar, meanwhile, has ordered commanders of all police units to start mapping out security plans to prevent violence related to intense political rivalries in connection with next year’s May elections.
“Join me towards a fair Philippines. And for that to happen, we must have a justice with a bite, a justice system with teeth,” said Diokno, currently the chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) who placed 21st in the 2019 senatorial race.
“Next year is the 50th anniversary of the declaration of martial law. I will be damned if we allow Marcoses and the Dutertes to stay in power. All the more a united opposition becomes a necessity if we are to effectively oppose the Marcos and Duterte dynasties,” said Colmenares, who served as party-list representative for Bayan Muna from April 2009 to June 2016. He ran for senator in the 2016 and 2019 elections but failed both times.
Another familiar name looking to make a comeback in the Senate is former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who iled his COC for senator as an independent candidate.
Cayetano served as senator from 2007 to 2017 before running for representative of Taguig—Pateros’s 1st district in the May 2019 polls.
“I can offer a leadership that is faith-based and values-oriented, a leadership that heals, inclusive, builds communities, and transcend regionalism,” said Cayetano.
Mayor Edwin Olivarez of Paranaque filed his candidacy for congressman of the first district of the city, with his brother, Rep. Eric Olivarez, running for mayor with Binky Favis as his running mate.
Currently the chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, Mayor Olivarez served as congressman in 2010. – With Noel Talacay, Christian Oineza, and Victor Reyes
