4 LP bets file COCs for senator

MANILA, Philippines - Four Liberal Party (LP) senatorial bets on Thursday filed their certificate of candidacy (COC) on the same day as LP's standard bearer for president and vice president, Manuel "Mar" Roxas II and Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo.

The LP members who filed their COCs on Thursday were resigned Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Sen. Teofisto "TG" Guingona Jr,  Coop Natcco party-list Rep. Cresente Paez and Interior Assistant Secretary for Muslim Affairs Nariman Ambolodto.

The first LP member to file her senatorial candidacy among the four was Ambolodto who hails from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Ambolodto thanked President Benigno Aquino III for the opportunity of appointing her as interior assistant secretary for Muslim affairs.

Another surprise LP member of the senatorial slate, Paez filed his COC after joining the LP camp in a Mass at the Manila Cathedral. Paez is running as a guest candidate of LP.

"I am running for senator because we believe that the cooperative sector and marginalized groups need a voice in Senate," Paez, who wants to be known as "Mr. Coop," said.

"We joined the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid because our advocacies are similar. We are also happy that the Liberal Party invited us to be part of their senatorial slate. To me that is a recognition of the significance and contributions of cooperatives in development," he added.

De Lima was the third to file her COC on Thursday afternoon. She said the date was chosen based on "feng shui."

If elected, De Lima wants to focus on three agenda which are justice and rule of law, anti-corruption and championing human rights because she feels that the time of her service at the Department of Justice (DOJ) is not enough and there is a need to continue her advocacies.

"Kung pinagkatiwalaan po ako ng taumbayan nung ako'y naging chairperson ng Commission on Human Rights, at nung ako'y naging secretary of justice ay panalangin ko ho na pagkatiwalaan pa rin ako ng taumbayan dito sa bago kong paglalakbay from point J to point S," De Lima said.

During her candidacy, De Lima posed with hand gesture "five" which she explained was a representation of her surname "De Lima."

The fourth LP member to file was Guingona, accompanied by his father and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona.

The younger Guingona vows to battle corruption when re-elected.

"Ipagpapatuloy natin ang pagbabantay sa pera ng bayan nang makatulong sa mamamyang Pilipino. Marami pa pong gagawan. Ituloy natin ang laban," he said.

Two remaining senatorial candidates of LP are expected to file on the last day of COC filing at the Comelec on Friday. These are outgoing Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva and former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.

The LP senatorial slate was introduced to the public on Monday.