THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) released on Thursday initial certified list of candidates for the coming May 9 elections.
In its web site, the Comelec included eight names of presidentiables, led by Vice President Jejomar C. Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Also in the list are Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago of the People’s Reform Party (PRP) and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). Mel Mendoza of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), Sen. Grace Poe (Independent) and Mannuel A. Roxas II of the Liberal Party (LP) were also in the list. Likewise, OFW Family Club party-list Rep. Roy V. Señeres of the Partido ng Mangagawa at Magsasaka-Workers and Peasants Party (PMM-WPP) and Dante Valencia (Independent) were in the initial list.
It can be recalled that a total of 130 individuals filed their Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for president last October.
For the vice-presidential race, there were six names who made it in the initial list out of the 19 individuals who earlier filed their COCs. They are independent-running Sen. Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Francis G. Escudero, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Antonio F. Trillanes III. Also in the list for vice-presidentiables are Sens. Gringo B. Honasan II of UNA and LP Rep. Leni G. Robredo of Camarines Sur.
Back in October, a total of 19 individuals filed their COCs for vice president.
Meanwhile, a total of 52 names were included in the initial list of senatorial candidates of the commission.
They are the following: Raffy Alunan (Independent), Ina Ambolodto (LP), Tonyboy Aquino (Independent), Godofredo Arquiza (Independent), Levito Baligod (Independent), Greco Belgica (Independent), Walden Bello (Independent), Sandra Cam (PMP), Joel Catmon (PGRP), Mel Chavez (PMM-WPP)-Neri Colmenares (Makabayan), Leila de Lima (LP), Francisco Domagoso (PMP), Frank Drilon (LP), Larry Gadon (KBL), Win Gatchalian (NPC), Dick Gordon (Independent), Teofisto Guingona III (LP), Risa Hontiveros (Akbayan), Princess Jaafar (Independent), Eid Kabalu (Independent), Lorna Kapunan (Aksyon), Princess Jacel Kiram (UNA), Alma Moreno (UNA), Ping Lacson (Independent) and Juror Lagare (Independent).
Also in the list of senatorial candidates are Rey Langit (UNA), Mark Lapid (Aksyon), Dante Liban (Independent), Romeo Maganto (Lakas), Edu Manzano (Independent), Allan Montaño (UNA), Ramon Montaño (Independent), Getulio Napeñas (UNA), Susan Ople (NP), Emma Orozco (Independent), Sergio Osmeña III (Independent), Manny Pacquiao (UNA), Coop Paez (Independent), Samuel Pagdilao (Independent), Jovito Palparan Jr. (Independent), Francis Pangilinan (LP), Jericho Petilla (LP), Ralph Recto (LP), Roger Rodriguez (Independent), Martin Romualdez (Lakas), Roman Romulo (Independent), Dionisio Santiago (Independent), Vicente Sotto III (NPC), Francis Tolentino (Independent), Joel Villanueva (LP) and Miguel Zubiri (Independent).
A total of 172 individuals filed their COCs for Senator last October. Aside from the candidates for president, vice president and senator, the Comelec also released the initial list of candidates for party-list as well as local candidates.
“The certified list of candidates, as posted, is merely an initial list and subject to editing,” Comelec noted. The commission said the list is still subject to changes since there are still those who are awaiting final resolution of the disqualification cases against them. “The list is subject to the outcome of the various cases/issues pending before the Commission,” it pointed out. The Comelec release of the initial list of candidates to give them the opportunity to check the accuracy of their names before the printing of the ballots starting February 1.