By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
A total of 99 aspirants for national positions in next year’s midterm elections filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) on Monday, the second to the last day of the filing period.
The number includes 49 senatorial bets and 50 party-list organizations.
Among the filers at The Manila Hotel Tent City was entertainment industry “Superstar” Nora Aunor, the second nominee of the People’s Champ party-list.
“Gusto ko makatulong,” the multi-awarded actress said in an interview when asked why she decided to join the group.
Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal is also seeking to be part of the House of Representatives under the Partido sa Bagong Pilipino party-list.
Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, meanwhile, is running as Akbayan party-list first nominee. He ran for senator in the May 2022 polls but lost.
Meanwhile, prominent figures who filed their senatorial bids included reelectionist Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., former Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, former Marine colonel Ariel Querubin, and former senators Gregorio Honasan II and Manny Pacquiao.
As of Monday, a total of 127 senatorial bets have filed their COCs while 137 party-list organizations have submitted their certificates of nomination – certificates of acceptance of nomination (CONAs).
The filing period will end Tuesday.