MANILA – Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs Francis Tolentino will try his luck, once more, in next year’s mid-term elections as he filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for senator on Wednesday.
Prior to filing his candidacy, Tolentino announced that he asked the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) to temporarily shelve the electoral protest he filed against Senator Leila de Lima in 2016.
“Accordingly, protestant (Tolentino) most respectfully moves for the suspension of the instant Protest subject to the resolution of pending motions, with pride and honor intact,” Tolentino said in his motion to suspend proceedings and/or archive the protest filed before the tribunal.
Tolentino, former Tagaytay City mayor and chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, placed 13th in the 2016 senatorial elections.
He is running under the administration party, PDP-Laban.
Meanwhile, former Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said Tolentino’s filing of his candidacy does not automatically mean that he is dropping his electoral protest.
The election lawyer explained that only a successful candidacy would render the protest case moot and academic.
“By assuming another position, the protest is automatically withdrawn,” he said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Romulo Macalintal officially also filed his COC for senator on Wednesday.
He added that his advocacy is to promote rights and interest of senior citizens. Macalintal clarified that he will remain as legal counsel of the Vice President.
“Kahit naman ako ay tumatakbo (Even if I am running) as senator, ako pa din naman ang (I’m still her) lawyer kasi I’m not prohibited from handling cases,” he added.
The electoral case filed by Marcos is still pending at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
