Bets to run under Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition

THE administration coalition’s senatorial slate for the 2025 midterm elections will include five senators seeking a second term, three former senators, two members of the House of Representatives, a Cabinet member and an incumbent city mayor.

President Marcos Jr., during the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Convention 2024 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, yesterday said her sister, Sen. Imee Marcos will lead the administration’s line-up, along with Senate majority leader Francis Tolentino, and Senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid and Ramon “Bong” Revilla.

The terms of the five are set to end on June 30, 2025. They are eligible to seek a second six-year term.

Also included in the President’s list are former Senators Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Emannuel “Manny” Pacquiao. Lacson and Pacquiao run but lost to Marcos in the 2022 presidential election. Sotto run in tandem with Lacson for vice president but also lost in the 2022 polls.

Marcos also endorsed the senatorial bids of Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., and Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay.

“Mga kababayan: Sila po ang line-up ng Alyansa. Sa kanilang kalidad at karanasan, mataas ang aking kumpyansa na sila ay ating magiging katuwang sa ating pagsulong at sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng ating bansa (My countrymen: This is the line up of the administration alliance. With their quality and experience, I am confident that they will be our partners in the advancement and the continued development of our country),” the President said.

“Atin po sila ay samahan at suportahan (Let us join them and support them),” he said.

The 12 were endorsed for inclusion in the senatorial slate of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition by their respective political parties.

The parties include the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) and Nacionalista Party (NP).

Tolentino, Pacquiao, and Abalos are from the PFP; Revilla and Tulfo are from Lakas-CMD; Senator Marcos, Cayetano and Villar from NP; and Lapid, Sotto, Lacson and Binay are from NPC.

The President vouched for the competence of the 12 and said that they are all “humane, God-fearing and patriotic.”

He added that the upcoming candidates can help his administration achieve its goals and bring prosperity and progress to the country, and have proven that they can stand up for the Filipinos’ interest, welfare and rights.

Speaker Martin Romualdez, in a chance interview on the sidelines of the event, said he is “very confident” about the winnability of administration’s senatorial bets and vowed to “do our very best” when asked if they could secure a 12-0 victory during the polls. Romualdez is the president of Lakas-CMD.

Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, who has been tapped as the coalition’s campaign manager, said in a separate interview that the primary consideration in choosing the line-up was not based on their winnability but their support to the legislative agenda of the administration and their commitment to serve and improve the lives of Filipinos.

Asked if the President would campaign for the administration bets, Tiangco this would depend on Marcos’ schedule since his priority is his work.

Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez said Marcos is expected to attend the activities of the senatorial candidates at least once a week.

COC FILING IN OCTOBER

Abalos said he is now wrapping up his work at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and would resign as secretary once he files his Certificate of Candidacy (COC), which will start on October 1 and end on October 8.

Abalos said he has yet to endorse anyone to replace him but said that there are already personalities being considered for the post. He declined to name any of them.

Sotto, who is the NPC chairman, said he, along with Lacson and Lapid, are planning to file their COCs on October 2. He said Lacson joined the NPC as an “honorary member.”

The former Senate president said the Alyansa candidates have a “very strong chance” of winning in the elections, noting that the line-up is a “good mix” composed of individuals who represent different sectors from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

He also expressed confidence in the alliance’s “unified approach for a better government, for a better future for the country.”

Lacson yesterday said he agreed to be a part of the administration’s senatorial ticket to help “fix a broken system.” “It is more difficult to fix a broken system from the outside,” he said in a post on his website. Lacson was a former PNP chief. He served two consecutive terms before he ran for president in 2022.

Binay, for her part, said she joined the Alyansa to support the projects of the Marcos administration and push for empowerment of the local government, while Villar said the alliance’s senatorial bets all stand united and committed to helping Filipinos and addressing the problems affecting the country.

Lapid thanked Marcos for his support and for his inclusion in the coalition’s ticket.

MANIFESTO

During the event, the party leaders of PFP, Lakas-CMD, NPC, NP, and the National Unity Party (NUP) signed a manifesto reaffirming their commitment to the President’s vision of building a more prosperous, peaceful, and inclusive Philippines, anchored on the principles of good governance, social justice, and economic progress.

PFP secretary general Rodolfo Albano III, in a statement, said the manifesto outlines a bold and ambitious plan to continue the economic recovery, improve public services, and ensure the country’s security, as well as the coalition’s platform that prioritizes working alongside private sector partners to generate jobs and pursue long-term, sustainable projects that will uplift the lives of ordinary Filipinos.

“The Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas is a coalition for the future. We recognize the need to work together to address pressing issues such as poverty, infrastructure, education, and healthcare. It’s not just about fielding candidates; it’s about crafting a new path for the Philippines where every citizen feels the impact of good governance,” Albano said.

LAKAS-CMD

The ruling Lakas-CMD led by Romualdez yesterday officially joined the President’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas in preparation for the 2025 midterm elections.

He told his party mates and members of other political groups attending the Alyansa convention at the PICC that under the President, “we have already seen the beginnings of real progress.”

“We have witnessed a government that works tirelessly to uplift our economy, secure our future, and restore the hope of every Filipino family. But we all know that the journey doesn’t end here. In fact, it is just beginning,” he said.

“The future we seek is within our reach, but it will require each of us – working hand in hand, with passion and dedication – to bring that future to life. Our alliance proves that despite our differences, we share the same goal: to build a nation where every Filipino can live with dignity, where children can dream without limits, and where the most vulnerable among us are never forgotten,” he said.

The Speaker, who is a first cousin of the President, described the birth of the multi-party Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas as “a significant milestone in our country’s history.”

“Today marks the reaffirmation of our collective commitment to the vision set forth by our President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. – a vision anchored on unity, stability, and prosperity for all Filipinos,” he said.

Romualdez said the administration coalition “is built on a solid foundation of service to the people, and we are united by a shared purpose: to uplift the lives of every Filipino, to create a future where our country thrives, and to ensure that no one is left behind.”

“When we look back at the challenges our nation has faced, it becomes clear why unity is crucial. Each of our parties – whether it be Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Lakas-CMD, the Nationalist People’s Coalition, the Nacionalista Party, or the National Unity Party – represents different perspectives, histories, and stories,” he also said.

The House leader pointed out that Alyansa members are “at a pivotal juncture” as the nation approaches the May 12, 2025 elections.

“The decisions we make today and in the months to come will shape the direction of our nation for years to come,” he said. “It is essential that we stand firm in our resolve to support the programs and legislative agenda of the Marcos administration. These initiatives have laid the foundation for economic recovery, poverty alleviation, and national security.” — With Raymond Africa and Wendell Vigilia