Candidacy filing ends; 374 bets vie for Senate, party-list seats

MANILA, October 9 ------ A total of 374 aspirants filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) and certificates of nomination - certificates of acceptance of nomination (CON-CAN) for the senatorial and party-list race in next year's midterm elections. At the end of the eight-day candidacy filing period on Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the figure included 184 candidates for senator and 190 party-list groups. 

This included 57 senatorial bets and 53 party-list groups that beat the filing deadline at The Manila Hotel City in Manila. Among the last-minute filers was TV host Willie Revillame, seeking to be elected senator in next year’s polls.“Gusto nating tulungan ang mga pamilyang naghihirap, walang makain, mga batang nangangarap na makapag-aral," the "Wil to Win" host said in an interview. Revillame noted that he would push for free education, health care for everyone, and increasing discounts for the vulnerable sector. “Gusto natin libreng eskwelahan, libreng libro. Unahin ang mamamayan,” he said. 

The host/actor said once elected, he would not argue or engage in a debate with his fellow senators. Instead, he added, he would sit down and talk to them in a very polite manner. Aside from Revillame, other senatorial aspirants who filed their respective COCs were Sagip party-list Rep. Dante Marcoleta, former Commission on Audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza, detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy, former senator Kiko Pangilinan, and former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez. 

On the other hand, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said former defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana withdrew his COC on Tuesday. Lorenzana filed his candidacy as an independent aspirant on Monday, through a duly authorized representative. “He cited no reason for said withdrawal,” Laudiangco added. 

Source: pna.gov.ph