Major political parties unable to complete senatorial slates

MANILA, Philippines - While the Commission on Elections (Comelec) listed a record high number of possible candidates, many of the major political parties would be unable to field a complete senatorial slate in the coming May 2016 elections.

Based on Comelec data, not a single political party has so far succeeded in forming a 12-member senatorial lineup.

Only eight candidates registered for the administration Liberal Party (LP) and six for the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka of party-list Rep. Roy Señeres, who is running for president, is also fielding six senatorial bets.

Nine Senate bets have registered Partido Bagong Maharlika as their political party.

Both Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and the Philippine Green Republican Party have six senatorial candidates while the Democratic Party of the Philippines nominated four senatorial bets.

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino of former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has two senatorial bets.

Other parties fielding senatorial candidates are Nacionalista Party, Bagumbayan, PDP-Laban, People’s Reform Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Lakas-CMD, Akbayan and Makabayan.

A total of 172 candidates have filed certificates of candidacy (COC) for senator aside from the 130 presidential and 19 vice presidential bets.

Over a hundred candidates registered as independent, but some have expressed intention to support certain presidential candidates.

The Comelec will evaluate all the COCs and determine by Dec. 10 who are qualified to become official candidates in the May 2016 elections.