THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday 66 senatorial aspirants will be vying for the 12 seats up for grabs in the May 2025 polls.
“Our candidates for senators, the 66 names, is now deemed as final,” said Comelec chairman George Garcia in an interview.
“We didn’t receive any temporary restraining orders (TROs) from the Supreme Court. This means we have 117 aspirants declared as nuisance,” he also said.
In the list are all the 11 members of the Marcos administration’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate, namely former interior secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Bong Revilla, and Francis Tolentino; former senators Panfilo Lacson, Vicente Sotto III, Manny Pacquiao, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, and House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.
Also making the list are known allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, namely singer Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Cristopher Go, former Marcos Jr executive secretary Victor Rodriguez, religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, Jesus Hinlo, Raul Lambino, actor Phillip Salvador and James Bondoc.
The Comelec also included in the list Sen. Imee Marcos, former senators Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino and Gringo Honasan; former national security adviser Norberto Gonzales, SAGIP party-list Rep Rodante Marcoleta, AGRI party-list Rep Wilbert Lee, former Commission on Audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza, Dr Willie Ong, retired Marine officer Ariel Querubin, TV host Willie Revillame, former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson, broadcaster Ben Tulfo, as well as labor leaders Sonny Matula, Luke Espiritu, and Leody de Guzman.
The entire 11-man slate of the Makabayan Coalition, namely registered nurse Jocelyn Andamo, PISTON leader Mody Floranda, Kadamay Secretary General Mimi Doringo, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary-general Jerome Adonis, Pamalakaya vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chair Danilo Ramos, former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, and Sandugo Co-chairperson Almirah Lidasan, also made the list.
Completing the list are Wilson Amad, Ernesto Arellano, Roberto Ballon, Bonifacio Bosita, Roy Cabognero, Allen Capuyan, Angelo de Alban, David D’Angelo, Arnel Escobal, Marc Gamboa, Relly Jose, Norman Marquez, Eric Martinez, Richard Mata, Jose Montemayor, Jose Olivar, Nur Ana Sahidulla, Michael Tapado, Mario Valbuena, and Leandro Verceles.
To recall, 183 individuals filed their certificates of candidacies for senator at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel from October 1 to 8.
As for local candidates, Garcia said the Comelec is close to resolving all pending petitions to declare as nuisance candidates.
“Currently, almost 80 percent of the local nuisance cases have been resolved by the Comelec en banc. We only have a few cases left to resolve,” said Garcia.
And with the cleansing of the list of candidates almost completed, Garcia said they are looking to start printing the official ballots on January 6.
This was despite the Comelec previously looking to commence ballot printing by mid-December.
“We want to give ample time to resolve all pending cases so we set the start of ballot printing on January 6… at all cost, we must start by that time,” Garcia said.
He said they cannot commence at a later date as they will need 77 days to complete printing the estimated 73 million ballots.
“If you compute the 77 days, that is April 14 next year. That is how tight our timeline is,” he said.
Back in October, the Comelec’s service provider Miru Systems officially turned over two HP PageWide Advantage 2200 machines that shall be used for the printing of the official ballots at the National Printing Office (NPO).
In a related development, Garcia said there will be no extension for the period to register all online campaign platforms of national and local candidates in the May 2025 polls.
Garcia said today’s deadline will be unchanged as all national and local bets are expected to register their online campaign platforms.
“For the social media platforms, there will be no extension,” said Garcia.
As of December 11, there are a 7,302 national and local candidates and political parties and party-list organizations that have filed their applications for registration online.
These include 43 senatorial aspirants; 7,085 local aspirants, and 174 party-list groups and political parties. There are a total of 43,033 individuals that filed their COCs, and 190 party-list organizations that filed their Certificates of Nomination and Certificates of Acceptance of Nomination for the May 2025 polls.
Under Resolution No. 11064, all candidates, party-list organizations, and political parties intending to participate in the May 2025 polls are required to register their online campaign platforms.
This includes all official social media accounts and pages, websites, podcasts, blogs, vlogs, and other online and internet-based campaign platforms.
