17 senatorial bets, 15 party-lists file candidacy on Day 1

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said this is based on the report submitted by the panel on Thursday. (File Photo: COMELEC/Facebook)

By Ferdinand Patinio, Christopher Lloyd Caliwan, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Seventeen senatorial bets filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) at the start of the filing period for the May 2025 midterm polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.

Leading the list is re-electionist Senator Francis Tolentino of the Partido Federal ng Filipinas, along with AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee of Aksyon Demokratiko, Jose Montemayor of Partido Federal ng Maharlika, and Najar Salih of Partido Maharlika.

Independent senatorial bets who filed their COCs are David Chan, Alexander Encarnacion, Janice Padilla, Jose Olivar, Felipe Montealto, Joseph Dy, Daniel Magtira, Happy Lubarbio, Norman Marquez, Phil Delos Reyes, Marc Gamboa, Miguelino Caturan, and Sunang Ditanongun.

Meanwhile, 15 party-list groups have filed their Certificate of Nomination – Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination (CON-CAN).

For party-list groups, those who submitted their CON-CAN on the first day of the filing period were: Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas, Kabayan, Manila Teachers, Ako OFW, Lingap, Akay ni Sol, Agao, Buhay, Bayan Muna, Coop Natcco, Kamangagawa, Magsasaka, ACT-CIS, Senior Citizens, and Diwa.

The filing of candidacy for senatorial bets and party-list groups was held at The Manila Hotel Tent City in Manila.

In a press briefing, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said no untoward incidents were recorded on the first day of the filing period.

“So far, our nationwide monitoring showed there were no disturbances during the filing of Certificate of Candidacy. Our first day was a success. Outside the venue, the filers have many companions but they were able to observe order during the filing,” the poll body chief added.

The COC filing period runs until Oct. 8.

PNP mulls earlier gun ban

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, meanwhile, said they are looking into an early implementation of the election gun ban.

“We are going after loose firearms so we are very careful, I said there are so many loose firearms so we are very strict now but we are really considering an early gun ban for this upcoming election,” Marbil told reporters on the sidelines of the turnover of command rites at the Police Regional Office 3 headquarters in Camp Olivas, San Fernando City, Pampanga.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10999, the gun ban will be in effect during the election period from Jan. 12 to June 11, 2025.

Marbil said any officer found engaging in partisan activities or compromising the integrity of the police force will be dealt with accordingly.

He also called on police officers to spare no effort in curbing election-related violence.

The PNP chief also ordered the recall of police escorts who have relatives running in the May 2025 elections.

“We need more policemen on the ground. We have to look into loose firearms, second the illegal activities that may be used to fund campaign activities. And of course, we have a reshuffle of our officers who have relatives running in the polls,” he added.