Grace, Chiz to file COCs today...

MANILA, Philippines - It’s Sens. Grace Poe and Francis Escudero’s turn to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the Commission on Elections today for their presidential and vice presidential bids.

The two frontrunners in surveys on voter preferences for president and vice president will formally field their complete senatorial slate next week, a well-placed source said.

During the filing of their COCs, Poe would be accompanied by her mother, actress Susan Roces, while Escudero would have his wife, actress Heart Evangelista, by his side.

No information has been provided yet by either camp about the composition of their senatorial slate.

But the source, who is privy to the negotiations with prospective members of the senatorial slate, said those in the shortlist are reelectionist Sens. Ralph Recto and Vicente Sotto III, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian and former senator Richard Gordon.

Also included in the shortlist are human rights and family lawyer Lorna Kapunan, former senator Panfilo Lacson, former anti-movie piracy chief Edu Manzano, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, peace advocate Amina Rasul, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, former technical education chief Joel Villanueva and former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Lacson, Recto and Villanueva, who are included in the senatorial ticket of the administration’s Liberal Party, will likely be “guest” or “adopted” candidates.

The source also said the lines of communication between Poe and world boxing idol and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, who is also running for the Senate, remain open.

In statement yesterday, Lacson said he was invited as a guest candidate in the administration’s Liberal Party, the opposition’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), and the independent tandem of Poe and Escudero.

Poe and Escudero were both present during Colmenares’ announcement of his senatorial bid.

The Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), of which Gatchalian is a member, has not yet decided whom to support for the 2016 elections. But the party is expected to throw its support behind Poe and Escudero based on earlier pronouncements of its officials.

Sotto, who filed his COC as a member of the NPC yesterday, said that he would be supporting Poe for president and Honasan for vice president.

Honasan is the running mate of presidential contender Vice President Jejomar Binay under UNA and is a member of the Senate minority bloc, of which Sotto is also a member.

Escudero said although he and Poe both do not have a political party to support their candidacies, they would rely on the support of the people.