THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its monitoring of potential election hotspots as the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy (CoCs) approached.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said on Sunday he had directed all police units to step up vigilance, particularly against armed groups who may be plotting to disrupt the 2025 elections.
Aspiring candidates have only until Tuesday to submit their CoCs to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“With the political climate heating up, our role is critical in ensuring a secure and fair environment for all candidates and the public. I am directing all police units to intensify security operations, especially in traditional election hotspots where tensions often escalate,” Marbil said in a statement.
PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo said under close watch will be “regions that have seen heightened activity from armed groups and criminal elements.”
“We will not allow any threats to undermine the democratic process. Our primary objective is to prevent any form of violence or intimidation,” Fajardo said.
Marbil also reminded police personnel to maintain strict neutrality and refrain from engaging in political activities. “The PNP remains a nonpartisan institution. Any officer found engaging in political interference or supporting candidates will face severe sanctions,” he said.
Close to 18,000 bets for various government positions have filed CoCs since Monday last week. Among the more prominent personalities who filed CoCs on Sunday was Jimmy Bondoc, a lawyer, musician, and former official of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).
Bondoc will run for senator under the PDP-Laban party.
He expressed his commitment to spearhead efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution, which he believes is essential for fostering economic growth and enhancing the country’s governance.
“Charter change is not just a political buzzword; it is a necessary step toward modernizing our laws and systems to better serve our people,” he told The Manila Times.
Bondoc is also proposing the creation of an independent anti-corruption agency that would operate free from political influence, ensuring accountability and transparency in public office.
“Corruption has plagued our institutions for far too long. We need an agency that is truly independent, one that can investigate and prosecute without fear or favor,” he said.
Also running for the Senate was ACT-CIIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo, who filed his CoC on Sunday.
Tulfo will be running under the administration party coalition.
A former broadcaster and reporter, he was appointed social welfare and development secretary by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. but was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments.
Reelectionist Sen. Pia Cayetano also filed her CoC on Sunday.
Cayetano led a bike ride, where she was joined by around 150 cyclists from Taguig, Manila, and Pasay City to the CoC filing center at the Manila Hotel. Cayetano is the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon and Energy Committees and is senior vice chairman of the Finance Committee.
She has consistently pushed for funding for education, health care, arts, culture and history.
She has also backed athletes, including EJ Obiena and the Yulo siblings, and supported various sports grassroots programs.
Also running for a Senate seat was former defense secretary and national security adviser Norberto Gonzales.
Gonzales, the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas chairman, on Sunday signed a “Covenant of Unity and Mutual Support” with Sonny Matula, president of the Federation of Free Workers and leader of the Workers Party of the Philippines.
Gonzales said he will file his CoC today, October 7.
Matula, who is also running as senator, described the signing event as “the beginning of a collaborative political campaign that seeks to redefine the discourse of Philippine governance.
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