
By Brian Campued
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday released an initial list of senatorial aspirants who may be included in the official ballot for the 2025 midterm elections.
In a resolution by the Commission En Banc, the Law Department has recommended the partial names of 66 out of the 183 senatorial aspirants vying for 12 seats in the upper chamber.
The Comelec said the list was “without prejudice to the decision of the Division or En Banc in the petitions to declare as nuisance candidates filed by the Law Department.”
Comelec chairperson George Garcia said their law department conducted a thorough evaluation of the names of aspirants based on their political history, presence of supporters, and whether they are part of a political party.
Meanwhile, the poll body also directed its law department to initiate the motu proprio filing of petitions to declare as nuisance candidates against 117 other aspirants.
“’Yong 117 hindi namin isinama dito (sa initial list) sapagkat kinakailangan pang mag-undergo sila ng pormal na proseso upang alamin kung sila ay dapat na idineklarang nuisance o hindi,” Garcia said.
“Kailangan pa ring bigyan ng due process yung 117 out of the 183 na mga senatorial aspirants,” he added.
The 66 initial names, in alphabetical order, are as follows:
- Abalos, Benjamin Jr. De Castro – Partido Federal ng PilipinasÂ
- Adonis, Ronaldo Mangampo – Makabayang Koalisyon ng MamamayanÂ
- Amad, Wilson Caritero – IndependentÂ
- Andamo, Jocelyn Santos – Makabayang Koalisyon ng MamamayanÂ
- Aquino, Paolo Benigno Aguirre – Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang PilipinoÂ
- Arambulo, Ronnel Gondraneos – Makabayang Koalisyon ng MamamayanÂ
- Arellano, Ernesto Rillera – Kamalayang Kayumanggi (Katipunan)Â
- Ballon, Roberto Amido – IndependentÂ
- Binay, Mar-Len Abigail Sombillo – Nationalist People’s CoalitionÂ
- Bondoc, James Patrick Romero – PDP-Laban
- Bong Revilla, Ramon Jr. Bautista – Lakas-CMDÂ
- Bosita, Bonifacio Laqui – IndependentÂ
- Brosas, Arlene Duran –Â Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
- Cabonegro, Roy Jerusalem – Democratic Party of the PhilippinesÂ
- Capuyan, Allen Arat – Partido Pilipino sa PagbabagoÂ
- Casiño, Teodoro Acevedo – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
- Castro, Francisca Lustina – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
- Cayetano, Pilar Juliana Schramm – Nacionalista PartyÂ
- De Alban, Angelo Castro – Independent
- D’Angelo, David Delano – Bunyog Pagkakaisa PartyÂ
- De Guzman, Leodegario Quitain – Partido Lakas ng MasaÂ
- Dela Rosa, Ronald Marapon – PDP-LabanÂ
- Doringo, Eufemia Pet – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
- Escobal, Arnel Bondilles – Partido MaharlikaÂ
- Espiritu, Renecio Jr. Santos – Partido Lakas ng Masa
- Floranda, Modesto Toque – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
- Gamboa, Marc Louie Santos – IndependentÂ
- Go, Christopher Lawrence Tesoro – PDP-LabanÂ
- Gonzales, Norberto Borja – Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas
- Hinlo, Jesus Jr. Villanueva – PDP-LabanÂ
- Honasan, Gregorio Ballesteros – Reform PH-People’s PartyÂ
- Jose, Relly Jr. Nufable – Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
- Lacson, Panfilo Morena – IndependentÂ
- Lambino, Raul Loyola – PDP-LabanÂ
- Lapid, Manuel Mercado – Nationalist People’s Coalition
- Lee, Wilbert Te – Aksyon DemokratikoÂ
- Lidasan, Amirah Ali – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
- Marcoleta, Rodante Dizon – IndependentÂ
- Marcos, Maria Imelda Romualdez – Nacionalista PartyÂ
- Marquez, Norman Cordero – IndependentÂ
- Martinez, Eric Morales – IndependentÂ
- Mata, Richard Tesoro – IndependentÂ
- Matula, Jose Sonny Gito – Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP)
- Maza, Liza Largoza – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
- Mendoza, Heidi Lloce – Independent
- Montemayor, Jose Jr. Cabrera – Partido Pederal ng MaharlikaÂ
- Olivar, Jose Jessie Dela Calsada – IndependentÂ
- Ong, Willie Tan – Aksyon DemokratikoÂ
- Pacquiao, Emmanuel Dapidran – Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
- Pangilinan, Francis Pancratius Nepomuceno – Liberal Party of the PhilippinesÂ
- Querubin, Ariel Porfirio Oliva – Nacionalista PartyÂ
- Quiboloy, Apollo Carreon – WPP
- Ramos, Danilo Hernandez – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
- Revillame, Wilfredo Buendia – Independent
- Rodriguez, Victor Dayrit – Independent
- Sahidulla, Nur-Ana Indanan – Independent
- Salvador, Phillip Reyes – PDP-Laban
- Singson, Luis Crisologo – Independent
- Sotto, Vicente III Castelo – Nationalist People’s Coalition
- Tapado, Michael Balais – Partido MaharlikaÂ
- Tolentino, Francis Ng – Partido Federal ng PilipinasÂ
- Tulfo, Bienvenido Teshiba – IndependentÂ
- Tulfo, Erwin Teshiba – Lakas-CMD
- Valbuena, Mario Jr. Soliven – Independent
- Verceles, Leandro Buencosenjo – Independent
- Villar, Camille Aguilar – Nacionalista Party
The poll body also assured that they will release the complete list of official candidates for next year’s national and local elections before end-November. (with report from Louisa Erispe/PTV News)
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