By Claire Morales True

MANILA – A total of 184 senatorial aspirants and 190 party-lists filed their certificates of candidacy (CoCs) and certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONAs) during the week-long filing with the Commission on Elections at the Manila Hotel Tent City which ended on October 8, more than the numbers in previous election filings.

There are more than 18,000 national and local positions up for grabs in the May 2025 elections. (See related stories)

The Comelec said those who filed their CoCs for senator included seven reelectionists led by Sen. Maria Imelda “Imee” Marcos, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Francis Tolentino, Ronald dela Rosa, Christopher Lawrence Go, and Juliana Pilar Cayetano and several comebacking former senators Vicente Sotto III, Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Benigno Paolo Aquino IV, and Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan.

Prominent first timers for senators include Deputy Speaker Camille Villar,  former Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Rep. Erwin Tulfo, Makati Mayor Mar-len Abigail Binay, lawyer and former Cabinet member Raul Lambino, television host Wilfredo Willy Revillame, controversial pastor Apollo Quiboloy, former Ilocos Sur governor and congressman Luis Chavit Singson, former executive secretary Victor Rodriguez, journalist and vlogger Berteni Toto Causing, former Cabinet member Norberto Gonzales, actor Philip Salvador, Dr. Willie Ong, and labor leader and former presidential candidates Leodegario de Guzman.

Only the Marcos alliance and the militant group Makabayan are fielding a complete 12-man senatorial slates. The administration slate called Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas is composed of reelectionists Cayetano,  Lapid, Tolentino, Imee Marcos, and Revilla with Pacquiao, Lacson, Sotto, Camille Villar, Erwin Tulfo, Mayor Binay and Secretary Benhun Abalos.

The Makabayan candidates are Ronaldo Adonis, Ronnel Arambulo, Arlene Brosas, Jocelyn Andamo, Teodoro Casino, Francisca Castro, Eufemia Doringo, Modesto Floranda, Liza Maza, Amirah Lidasa and Danilo Ramos.

Prominent party-list nominees are led by National Artist Nora Aunor, former Manila Mayor Jose Lito Atienza  Jr. of Buhay party-list, Jesus is Lord leader and CIBAC (Citizens Battle against Corruption) Eduardo Eddie Villanueva, Rep. Senator Grace Poe’s son and chief of staff Brian Llamanzares representing the FPJ Bayanihan party-list and controversial Leila de Lima.

SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, meanwile, is seeking a higher post as he filed his candidacy for senator. Marcoleta said he is ready for the upcoming polls with the encouragement of his supporters.

“Sa ngayon, ang aking paniwala ay ganap na akong nakahanda. Sa dami ng kababayan natin na nanawagan na sana makapaglingkod pa ako sa mas mataas na level, gusto ko pa.unlakan ‘yung panawagan na ‘yun (For now, I believe that I’m fully ready. Many people are calling for me to serve at a higher level and I want to respond to that call),” he said after filing his candidacy at The Manila Hotel Tent City.

Marcoleta is one the critics of the poll automation project of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

He earlier accused Comelec Chairman George Garcia of owning bank accounts in the Cayman Islands and supposedly receiving deposits from banks in South Korea.

Some former government officials also decided to join the party-list polls by filling their certificates of nomination – certificates of acceptance of nomination.

Among them are Aksyon Dapat party-list president and former Pangasinan congressman Hernani Nani Braganza and forrmer Department of Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap as first nominee of Murang Kuryente party-list.