Senate old-timers filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) Wednesday as they seek re-election to continue working as legislators for the 20th Congress in next year’s midterm elections.
Presidential sister and incumbent Senator Imee Marcos submitted her COC before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the second day of filing at the Manila Hotel Tent.
She went with her two sons and her mother, Imelda. Marcos is running under the Nacionalista Party, but reiterated her decision to step out of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ alliance.
“I filed (my candidacy) under my old party Nacionalista, but I am not allied with any group or sector. I look forward to remaining free and independent,” Marcos said.
Later in the morning, the so-called ‘macho bloc’ lawmakers—former Senators Panfilo Lacson, Vicente Sotto III, and Lito Lapid—also filed their own COCs. They hope to reunite in the Senate.
Lapid is also an incumbent senator seeking re-election. Lacson and Sotto, meanwhile, are reactivating their political careers after losing in the 2022 national elections.
The three branded themselves as the ‘macho bloc’ senators when they worked together during the Duterte administration with former senators Manny Pacquiao and Gregorio Honasan.
Pacquiao is also making a return to the Senate, but has yet to file his COC. Honasan, however, did not make any announcements as regards his political plans.
Lacson, Lapid, Pacquiao and Sotto already secured the endorsement of President Marcos after they were also named as part of the 12-person senatorial lineup of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ coalition.
Sotto and Lapid are partymates in the Nationalist People’s Coalition. Lacson said he is running as an independent candidate even as he accepted his inclusion in the administration ticket.
The seasoned politicians said they want to help President Marcos achieve his vision for the Philippines that align with their principles.
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