(Eagle News) — Noted government officials and personalities, including former senators seeking a senate comeback and other former government officials, beat the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy to run as senatorial bets for the May 2019 polls on Wednesday, October 17.
Among those who filed their COCs were former presidential adviser for political affairs Francis Tolentino who is running under the PDP-Laban ruling party, former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who is running under LAKAS-CMD, reelectionist senator Sonny Angara running under the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), former senator Serge Osmeña who is running as an independent candidate, former solicitor general Florin Hilbay who is running under the Aksyon Demokratiko party, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael “Raffy” Alunan III who is running under Bagumbayan-VNP party.
Former senate president Juan Ponce Enrile also personally filed his correct COC on Wednesday, after his lawyer filed his earlier COC with the wrong occupation of “businesswoman” listed under his profession.
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also filed his COC as a senatorial bet for the May 2019 polls under the People’s Reform Party of the late senator Miriam Defensor Santiago.
Among the senatorial aspirants who beat the deadline for the filing of COC, it was only Revilla who cannot personally file his COC as he was still detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City because of his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam. He still has a pending case with the Sandiganbayan. His wife, Bacoor Cavite mayor Lani Revilla, filed his COC on his behalf, accompanied by sons Cavite Vice-Governor Jolo Revilla and Bryan Revilla.
Alunan, on the other hand, was accompanied by Senator Richard Gordon. Alunan is running under Gordon’s political party, Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines.
Comelec’s main office was closed at exactly 5 p.m. when the filing for COCs officially ended.
There were 151 COCs received by the poll body for the senatorial race next year, while it received 185 applications for party-list nominees.
These are lower compared to the previous filings of COC recorded by the Comelec, according to its spokesperson James Jimenez.
(with a report and photos from Jerold Tagbo, Eagle News Service)
