Big names, and sprinkles of progressive, conservative ideas

Contrasting views on touchy subjects are perhaps the subplot of the day’s main attraction — the influx of established politicians filing their candidacies for the 2025 polls

MANILA, Philippines – A contrast between controversial and progressive ideas added novelty to the seventh day of candidacy filing for the Philippine midterm elections, a day dominated by big, old names formally throwing themselves into the 2025 senatorial race.

The last remaining candidates from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s senatorial lineup who had yet to submit their documents finally did on Monday, October 7, namely reelectionist senator Bong Revilla, resigned interior secretary Benhur Abalos, and former senator Manny Pacquiao.

Revilla skipped the Q&A with the media but insisted in his speech that he was able to deliver despite some groups underestimating him, while Abalos said he would push for amendments to the local government code if elected.

Pacquiao vowed to fight corruption, while walking back on his criticisms of Marcos, his opponent during the 2022 presidential race.

“During Marcos Sr.’s time, our country was number one in the economy. Is there a corrupt country that is number one in the economy?” Pacquiao argued in Filipino, even though the Marcos Sr. family’s corruption is well-documented, prompting the creation of a government agency dedicated to recovering their ill-gotten wealth.

On the opposition’s side, former senator Bam Aquino launched his Senate comeback bid, promising to push for better access to livelihood opportunities for the Filipino youth.

When asked if he can work in a Senate under the presidency of a Marcos, a political nemesis of his family, Aquino said: “In the past, we have shown that even though we are not part of the majority, we can still implement the “most important laws for our country.”

Allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whom Marcos has quarreled with, also filed their candidacies for senator, namely:

• Former senator and information communications and technology chief Gringo Honasan
• Former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson
• Former interior undersecretary Jayvee Hinlo
• Former defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana
• Former presidential adviser for Northern Luzon Raul Lambinp
• Former indigenous peoples commission chief Allen Capuyan

Other notable senatorial hopefuls include:

• Retired soldier Ariel Querubin
• Arroyo-era defense secretary Norberto Gonzales
• Environmentalist, fisherman, and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Roberto Ballon
• Lawyer and university instructor Angelo de Alban
• Pediatrician and content creator Richard Mata
• Transport leader Mar Valbuena

In seven days, 127 candidates have filed their candidacies for senator, including the 49 new filers on Monday.

Contrasting ideologies

On a day filers came one after another nonstop, platforms offered ranged from the most conservative to perhaps among the most liberal for a Christian country like the Philippines.

Babae Ako, a new party-list group seeking to represent women in Congress, for example, is against abortion and divorce, issues that women’s rights advocates usually speak in favor of.

“Babae Ako Party-List is ready to help, especially in providing care during pregnancy, and particularly in offering facilities, like daycare centers, for their children. Babae Ako Party-List is here to give them hope so that they won’t consider aborting their child,” said first nominee Rossel Dimayuga.

Senatorial candidate De Alban, meanwhile, wants to push for amendments to the Family Code to take same-sex relationships into consideration, while party-list group Pamilya Ko commits to push for a domestic partnership law for LGBTQ+ individuals, and a legal framework for surrogacy . The latter also supports divorce.

“We want to give all our live-in partners and LGBT (people) the right for their union to be respected,” Pamilya Ko first nominee Anel Diaz said.

Duterte Youth also boasted about the fact he had filed a bill in the House of Representatives seeking to restore the death penalty in the Philippines. Earlier in the day, Akbayan formally sought reelection, led by his first nominee, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, who is strongly opposed to capital punishment.

Notable candidates

On the penultimate day of candidacy filing, a total of 50 party-list groups submitted their list of nominees.

Among them are those seeking reelection: APEC, Philreca, Ako Bicol, OFW, Ako Ilocano Ako, Akbayan, BH, Anakalusugan, and Duterte Youth.

There are also groups that don’t have a seat in the current Congress but are hoping to get at least one in the next polls. Some of them have notable nominees or backers, namely:

• Damayang Filipino Movement, supported by Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, and whose first nominee is his former executive assistant Athenie Ramirez
• Visaya Gyud, whose first nominee is Duterte-era presidential anti-corruption commission chief Greco Belgium
• Heal PH, whose first nominee is late senator Juan Flavier’s son Jonathan, and whose second nominee is retired health undersecretary Eric Tayag
• Partido sa Bagong Pilipino, whose first nominee is former elections commissioner Goyo Larrazabal
• Tourism, whose first nominee is former tourism secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo, sister of the Tulfo brothers
• MPBL, whose national adviser is former senator Pacquiao, and whose first and second nominees are former PDP spokesperson Ron Munsayac and the boxing champ’s wife Jinkee, respectively
• People’s Champ Guardians, whose first nominee is former Bicol Saro congressman Nicolas Enciso VIII, and whose second nominee is actress Nora Aunor

Expected filers on Tuesday, October 8, include former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and former Commission on Audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza. – Rappler.com