MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that 66 aspirants will compete for the 12 Senate seats available in the 2025 midterm polls.
According to Comelec Chairman George Garcia, the initial 66 names are now final since they did not receive any temporary restraining orders from the Supreme Court regarding the aspirants declared as nuisance.
Among the candidates are the 11 members of the Marcos administration’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate namely Benhur Abalos, Abby Binay, Pia Cayetano, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Manny Pacquiao, Bong Revilla, Vicente Sotto III, Francis Tolentino, Erwin Tulfo, and Camille Villar.
Also listed are candidates endorsed by former president Rodrigo Duterte namely Negrense lawyer Jayvee Hinlo, James Bondoc, Ronald Dela Rosa, Bong Go, Victor Rodriguez, Rodante Marcoleta, Raul Lambino, and Phillip Salvador.
Also in the list are Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Bam Aquino, Norberto Gonzales, Gringo Honasan, Wilbert Lee, Sen. Imee Marcos, Heidi Mendoza, Willie Ong, Francis Pangilinan, Ariel Querubin, Willie Revillame, Chavit Singson, Ben Tulfo, Sonny Matula, Luke Espiritu, and Leody de Guzman.
Candidates of the Makabayan Coalition are also part of the list namely Jocelyn Andamo, Mody Floranda, Mimi Doringo, France Castro, Arlene Brosas, Jerome Adonis, Ronnel Arambulo, Danilo Ramos, Liza Maza, Teddy Casiño, and Almirah Lidasan.
Completing the list are Wilson Amad, Ernesto Arellano, Roberto Ballon, Bonifacio Bosita, Roy Cabonegro, 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.
Garcia said that placement of the names of the senatorial aspirants on the ballot would be in alphabetical order.
“We will be printing the ballots, estimated 73 million, for 77 days. Final na, it’s Jan. 6. If you compute 77 days, April 14 next year, the printing will be done. Ganun ang timeline namin, napakasikip,” Garcia said.
“The ballots should be in the municipality and city by the first week of May. We need to finish printing immediately by April 14,” he added./ PN
