The grounds of the Palacio del Gobernador, which houses the Commission on Elections main office, turned into one sprawling circus as politicians of all political stripes and colors continued to file their certificate of candidacy for the third day on Wednesday.
The Comelec grounds teemed with hundreds of individuals marching to and from the building, holding streamers, playing band, and throwing colorful confetti to express their support and witness their political bets file their COC. The scene is replicated in everywhere local Comelec units.
On the third day of the filing, there were so far five candidates from Liberal Party, two from United Nationalist Alliance and Nationalist People’s Coalition; one from Lakas-CMD; and four independent candidates who have officially declared their plan to run for the 2016 national and local elections.
Inspired by his 6th ranking in the latest survey of senatorial preferences, resigned Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri filed his COC to seek a fresh mandate in the Senate.
He was the first to file his COC on Wednesday accompanied by his wife, newspaper lifestyle columnist Audrey Tan-Zubiri.
He said that he will run as an independent candidate since he does not want to be beholden to any particular parties or groups.
He, however, disclosed that he will be adopted as a guest candidate under the ticket of Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero.
In 2011, Zubiri resigned from the Senate after his victory in 2007 midterm elections has been questioned before the Senate Electoral Tribunal and being contested by his rival Aquilino Pimentel III.
Under the UNA party senatorial slate, candidates who have so far filed their COC are actress-turned-politician councilor Alma Moreno and the daughter of the late Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Princess Jacel Kiram.
Kiram, who will run for senator vowed that she will move to reclaim the country’s ownership over Sabah from Malaysia.
“Nakakalungkot na hindi pinapakinabangan ng Pilipino. Sa halip, ang Malaysia ang nakikinabang. Isasapuso ang advocacy na muling pagbawi ng Sabah,” Kiram said, citing the $72-billion supposed revenue being lost from the Philippines.
Moreno, on the other hand, refused to be interviewed but she was accompanied by her son Vandolph Quizon and daughter Wyn-Wyn Quizon.
Retired police general Romeo Maganto will also run for senator under the Lakas-CMD Party.
Under Nationalist People’s Coalition, candidates who have so far filed their COCs are: Senator Vicente Sotto III and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian.
Sotto, who was accompanied by his wife Helen Gamboa and his son Gian, said in an interview that he will support Poe for the presidency.
Candidates under Liberal Party who have so far filed their COCs are: Risa Hontiveros, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority chief Mark Lapid, Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senator Ralph Recto, and resigned Food Security czar Francis Pangilinan.
Two-time losing senatorial candidate Hontiveros is confident that this time she will win the election citing recent survey results.
“The survey results continue to inspire me because we are within striking distance. I am confident, this time, we will win,” Hontiveros, who for the first time opt not to wear her shawl, said.
Hontiveros is running as a guest candidate of the Liberal Party who vowed to fight for the proper implementation of universal health care, among others.
In an interview, Lapid, on the other hand, said that he intends to boost tourism to further strengthen the country’s economy.
Also a reelectionist, Recto vowed to revive Death Penalty only in cases of heinous crimes.
He was accompanied by his wife actress turned politician Vilma Santos-Recto and his son Ryan Christian.
Pangilinan, on the other hand. went to the Comelec office with his wife, actress Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan and his daughter Miel and son Frankie.
Independent senatorial candidates are Senator Antonio Trillanes IV who will run for vice president; controversial former MMDA chief Francis Tolentino; and Roman Romulo, who went to Comelec with his wife and host Shalani Soledad-Romulo.
Tolentino vowed to solve urbanization woes on national scale; Romulo, on the other hand, would focus on strengthening the plight of middle classes.
As of Wednesday, total candidates who have filed their COCs are 57 for president; 11 for vice president; and 53 for senators.