By Clarist Mae Zablan
(October 1, 2024) – Incumbent legislators, social media personalities, and previously disqualified candidates were among the 17 senatorial hopefuls who threw their hat into the ring on the first day of filing of candidacies on Tuesday.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) opened the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC) for the May 2025 national and local elections in various parts of the country, with the filing for senatorial and party-list posts held at the Tent City of the Manila Hotel in Ermita, Manila.
First to file his candidacy for senator is AGRI Rep. Wilbert Lee under the Aksyon Demokratiko ticket. He vowed to advocate for free medical services in the country.
The first among the reelectionists to file his COC was Sen. Francis Tolentino, who pledged to “harness the gains of the current administration relative to economic recovery,” as well as focus on foreign relations and defense.
Doctor-attorney Jose Montemayor also declared his senatorial bid, expressing confidence that he has a stronger chance to win a seat in the Senate since his presidential campaign in 2022.
Two social media personalities — TikTok content creator Eli San Fernando and Models of Manila TV’s Marc Gamboa — also seek to make their political debut in the Senate in 2025.
Some personalities who were previously declared as nuisance candidates in past elections made their appearances once again during the COC filing. Among them are security guard Phil delos Reyes, electrician-carpenter Alexander Encarnacion, and Daniel Magtira.
Animal welfare advocate Norman Marquez also filed his candidacy for senator. He was also previously declared a nuisance candidate twice due to a lack of financial capacity to campaign, but this was overturned by the Supreme Court on both counts.
Comelec chairperson George Garcia touted the first day of COC filing as orderly.
(With reports from Mon Gualvez, News5)
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