Comelec bares partial list of 66 senatorial bets

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:

1. Abalos, Benjamin Jr. De Castro – Partido Federal ng Pilipinas 
2. Adonis, Ronaldo Mangampo – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan 
3. Amad, Wilson Caritero – Independent 
4. Andamo, Jocelyn Santos – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan 
5. Aquino, Paolo Benigno Aguirre – Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino 
6. Arambulo, Ronnel Gondraneos – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan 
7. Arellano, Ernesto Rillera – Kamalayang Kayumanggi (Katipunan) 
8. Ballon, Roberto Amido – Independent 
9. Binay, Mar-Len Abigail Sombillo – Nationalist People’s Coalition 
10. Bondoc, James Patrick Romero – PDP-Laban
11. Bong Revilla, Ramon Jr. Bautista – Lakas-CMD 
12. Bosita, Bonifacio Laqui – Independent 
13. Brosas, Arlene Duran –  Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
14. Cabonegro, Roy Jerusalem – Democratic Party of the Philippines 
15. Capuyan, Allen Arat – Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago 
16. Casiño, Teodoro Acevedo – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
17. Castro, Francisca Lustina – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
18. Cayetano, Pilar Juliana Schramm – Nacionalista Party 
19. De Alban, Angelo Castro – Independent
20. D’Angelo, David Delano – Bunyog Pagkakaisa Party 
21. De Guzman, Leodegario Quitain – Partido Lakas ng Masa 
22. Dela Rosa, Ronald Marapon – PDP-Laban 
23. Doringo, Eufemia Pet – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
24. Escobal, Arnel Bondilles – Partido Maharlika 
25. Espiritu, Renecio Jr. Santos – Partido Lakas ng Masa
26. Floranda, Modesto Toque – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
27. Gamboa, Marc Louie Santos – Independent 
28. Go, Christopher Lawrence Tesoro – PDP-Laban 
29. Gonzales, Norberto Borja – Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas
30. Hinlo, Jesus Jr. Villanueva – PDP-Laban 
31. Honasan, Gregorio Ballesteros – Reform PH-People’s Party 
32. Jose, Relly Jr. Nufable – Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
33. Lacson, Panfilo Morena – Independent 
34. Lambino, Raul Loyola – PDP-Laban 
35. Lapid, Manuel Mercado – Nationalist People’s Coalition
36. Lee, Wilbert Te – Aksyon Demokratiko 
37. Lidasan, Amirah Ali – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
38. Marcoleta, Rodante Dizon – Independent 
39. Marcos, Maria Imelda Romualdez – Nacionalista Party 
40. Marquez, Norman Cordero – Independent 
41. Martinez, Eric Morales – Independent 
42. Mata, Richard Tesoro – Independent 
43. Matula, Jose Sonny Gito – Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP)
44. Maza, Liza Largoza – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
45. Mendoza, Heidi Lloce – Independent
46. Montemayor, Jose Jr. Cabrera – Partido Pederal ng Maharlika 
47. Olivar, Jose Jessie Dela Calsada – Independent 
48. Ong, Willie Tan – Aksyon Demokratiko 
49. Pacquiao, Emmanuel Dapidran – Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
50. Pangilinan, Francis Pancratius Nepomuceno – Liberal Party of the Philippines 
51. Querubin, Ariel Porfirio Oliva – Nacionalista Party 
52. Quiboloy, Apollo Carreon – WPP
53. Ramos, Danilo Hernandez – Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan
54. Revillame, Wilfredo Buendia – Independent
55. Rodriguez, Victor Dayrit – Independent
56. Sahidulla, Nur-Ana Indanan – Independent
57. Salvador, Phillip Reyes – PDP-Laban
58. Singson, Luis Crisologo – Independent
59. Sotto, Vicente III Castelo – Nationalist People’s Coalition
60. Tapado, Michael Balais – Partido Maharlika 
61. Tolentino, Francis Ng – Partido Federal ng Pilipinas 
62. Tulfo, Bienvenido Teshiba – Independent 
63. Tulfo, Erwin Teshiba – Lakas-CMD
64. Valbuena, Mario Jr. Soliven – Independent
65. Verceles, Leandro Buencosenjo – Independent
66. 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)

—iro