JUST a week after the end of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2025 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections yesterday released the names of 66 aspirants who made it to the initial list of candidates for next year’s Senate race.
The Comelec en banc, through Minute Resolution No. 24-0824, approved the recommendation of its Law Department which endorsed the inclusion of the 66 names in the official ballot for next year’s polls.
“The Commission resolves to adopt the recommendation of the Law Department to consider the below as partial/initial list of names of 66 aspirants for senator,” said the Comelec.
A total of 184 individuals filed their COCs for senator at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel from October 1 to 8.
Former defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana, however, withdrew his COC for senator, which trimmed down the list to 183.
There will be 12 vacant seats in the Senate that are up for grabs during next year’s polls.
In the initial list of senatorial hopefuls are the 11 members of the Marcos administration’s “Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas” senatorial slate, namely Senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Francis Tolentino; former senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson, Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao; House deputy speaker Camille Villar, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, Makati Mayor Abigail “Abby” Binay, and former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.
Presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos, who is running as an independent despite her inclusion in the administration coalition’s slate, is also included in the initial list.
Others who made it to the list are known allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, namely Senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christopher “Bong” Go; detained pastor Apollo Quiboloy, former executive secretary Victor Rodriguez, Raul Lambino, James Bondoc, Phillip Salvador and Jesus Hinlo.
The Comelec also included in the list former senators Bam Aquino, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, AGRI party-list Rep Wilbert Lee, former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson, former national security adviser Norberto Gonzales, former Commission on Audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza, Dr. Willie Ong, retired Marine officer Ariel Querubin, broadcaster Ben Tulfo, TV host Willie Revillame, and 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.
According to the Law Department, it conducted a thorough evaluation of the names of COC filers immediately after the COC filing period concluded on October 8.
“This Department conducted a very careful evaluation of the aspirants, which includes research of their background, affiliations, advocacies, platforms of government, general appearance and presence in the public, media, and internet, and behavioral actions,” it said.
117 COC FILERS
The poll body said the list is not yet final as additional names maybe added once hearings on petitions to declare candidates as nuisance candidates are completed.
“The above list is without prejudice to the decision of the division or en banc in the petitions to declare as nuisance candidates filed by the Law Department,” said the Comelec.
The en banc has authorized the Law Department “to initiate, on behalf of the Commission, the motu proprio filing of petitions to declare as nuisance candidates against the named 117 aspirants.”
It has likewise ordered the Commission’s Office of the Clerk to immediately docket and raffle the petitions that will be filed to the appropriate division for their speedy resolution.
QUIBOLOY
The Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) yesterday formally asked the Comeleec to cancel the certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) submitted by Quiboloy when he filed his COC to run for senator in the May 2025 polls.
In a petition, the political party also asked the poll body to disqualify Quiboloy for making material misrepresentation when he submitted an invalid CONA claiming to be an official candidate of the WPP.
“It is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Commission immediately cancel the certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) issued in favor of respondent pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy on the ground that it was submitted by unauthorized persons and without the authority from the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP),” said the WPP.
“(It is respectfully prayed) to declare the nomination of pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy null and void and order his removal as official candidate of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) for the position of senator in the upcoming elections,” it added.
“(The Commission should) cancel his COC and disqualify Mr. Quiboloy as a senatorial candidate for material misrepresentation and being a nuisance,” it also said.
Last week, Quiboloy filed his COC to run for senator in the May 2025 polls, through his authorized representative, lawyer Mark Tolentino.
Quiboloy’s COC included an attachment of his CONA allegedly from the WPP and was signed by one “Mark Kristopher Tolentino.
But according to the WPP, only the names of lawyers Ariel Arias and Jose Sonny G. Matula, and Dr. Oscar L. Morado, the WPP chairperson, president, and senior vice president, respectively, are the ones listed in the sworn list of the party’s authorized signatories submitted to the Comelec.
“Atty. Ariel Arias, Atty. Jose Sonny G. Matula and Dr. Oscar Morado vehemently denied authorizing anybody, more so signing any certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) allowing the inclusion of respondent Apollo C. Quiboloy to be a senatorial candidate of petitioner WPP,” it said.
“The individual who submitted the CONA of the respondent was not authorized to do so under the Party’s internal procedures and rules submitted to this Honorable Commission, including the authorized signatories for such certificates,” added the party.
But aside from having Quiboloy’s CONA cancelled, the WPP said he must also be disqualified from running in the forthcoming elections.
“Using an unauthorized certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) in the Philippines is a serious election offense. A CONA is typically issued by a political party to officially endorse a candidate as their nominee. Using a fraudulent or unauthorized CONA can lead to disqualification or other penalties,” said the party.
“If a candidate submits an unauthorized or falsified CONA, their candidacy may be nullified, and they may face disqualification proceedings,” added the WPP.
Quiboloy is detained at Camp Crame in Quezon City while facing charges of human trafficking and child and sexual abuse.
Quiboloy’s name has been included in the Comelec’s initial list of senatorial aspirants for the May 2025 polls.
