Duterte joins PDP-Laban bets on last day of filing

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte yesterday appeared at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) filing venue at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City to support eight PDP-Laban senatorial aspirants, mostly his Cabinet secretaries, who filed their certificate of candidacy (COC) on the last day of filing.

In a show of confidence, Duterte raised the hands of Information and Communications Secretary Gregorio Honasan III, Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner Greco Belgica and former public works secretary Mark Villar.

They, together with staunch Duterte supporters Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, broadcaster Rey Langit and actor Robin Padilla, will form PDP-Laban’s senatorial slate in the 2022 elections.

PDP-Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag earlier said the party wants to field 12 candidates in its senatorial lineup, including presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, but the three were not present during Friday’s filing.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, wearing a dark green shirt with a pink ribbon, filed his COC for vice president under the Liberal Party (LP), accompanied by his runningmate, Vice President Leni Robredo who was wearing pink with a blue ribbon. On Thursday, Robredo formally announced her presidential bid and filed her COC as an independent candidate.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV is also seeking a Senate comeback, filing his COC under the Magdalo party. He is a guest candidate of LP.

Former vice president and broadcaster Noli de Castro is also eyeing a return to the Senate, filing his COC under Aksyon Demokratiko, the party of presidential aspirant Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. If elected, De Castro vowed to work for the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, as well as push for the continued implementation of the 252 laws he sponsored in his previous Senate term.

Reelectionist Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian filed his COC yesterday, saying he wants to continue what he has started in the Senate, especially efforts toward COVID-19 response and solving the education crisis.

Detained opposition Sen. Leila de Lima also filed her COC through her authorized representative, lawyer Dino de Leon. If reelected, she vowed to bring back morality in government and run after the Duterte administration for its wrongdoings.

De Lima was arrested in 2017 for her alleged involvement in the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison when she was still justice secretary. Currently detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame, De Lima maintained the charges against her are politically motivated.

Former agriculture secretary Manny Piñol also filed his COC for senator under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), citing “policy differences” with the ruling PDP-Laban, but said he has no issues with Duterte.

From Oct. 1 to 8, the Comelec received a total of 97 COCs for president, 29 for vice president, 176 for senator and 270 for various partylist groups.

Local races

At the local level, more congressmen sought reelection, filing their COC on the last day.

Manila 1st district Rep. Manny Lopez said he decided to seek a third and final term in Congress, instead of running for Manila mayor despite the endorsement of PDP-Laban in Manila’s mayoralty race.

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is also seeking a third term, as well as Basilan lone district Rep. Mujiv Hataman.

Other incumbent congressmen also met the deadline and filed COCs for their reelection bids: Baguio Rep. Mark Go, Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. and CIBAC party-list Rep. Bro. Eddie Villanueva. – Robertzon Ramirez, Paolo Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano, Edu Punay