Comelec confirms 27 Senate bets

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday released an initial list of official candidates for senator in the 2013 mid-term elections.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillanes Jr. announced through his Twitter account the release of Resolution No. 9540, which confirms 27 of the 84 people who filed their certificates of candidacy at the poll body's main office in Manila from October 1 to October 5.

Confirmed candidates running for under United Nationalist Alliance are Vice President Jejomar Binay's daughter Nancy Binay, President Benigno Aquino's aunt Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, former President Joseph Estrada's son San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito, former senators Ernesto Maceda and Richard Gordon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros "Mitos" Magsaysay, and incumbent senator Gregorio Honasan.

Confirmed candidates from the Liberal Party are Aquino's nephew Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV and former senators Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal and Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.

Carrying the banner of Nacionalista Party are incumbent senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV and former congresswoman Cynthia Villar, the wife of NP President and incumbent Senator Manny Villar.

Incumbent Senator Loren Legarda and Juan Ponce Enrile Jr., the son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, are listed under the Nationalist People's Coalition.

Ang Kapatiran also has three senatorial bets who tag themselves as "tatlo laban sa trapo," namely lawyers John Carlos Delos Reyes and Marwil Llasos, and socio-political analyst Rizalito David.

Ana Theresia "Risa" Hontiveros of Akbayan, Teodoro Casiño of Makabayan, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III of PDP-LABAN and Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara of LABAN are also Comelec-confirmed candidates for senator.

Independently seeking Senate seats are incumbent Senator Francis Joseph "Chiz" Escudero, actor Fernando Poe, Jr's daughter Mary Grace Llamanzares, Puerta Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn and retired General Ramon Montaño.

The remaining 57 senatorial bets will have to appear before the commission on October 18 and 19 to justify their legitimacy and intent for candidacy.

These pending names include candidates running under political parties Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, Democratic Party of the Philippines and the Social Justice Society.