MANILA, Philippines — Different individuals—past and present solons aspiring to return to the House of Representatives, along with other politicians looking to get their first crack at lawmaking—have filed certificates of candidacy (COC) on Monday, the second-to-the-last day of filing.
At the Commission on Elections (Comelec) National Capital Region (NCR) office, outgoing Senator Cynthia Villar filed her COC for the 2025 midterm elections minutes past 9 a.m.
If successful, Villar will return to the House, where she served as district representative from 2001 to 2010. Currently, her daughter, Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, holds the post.
READ: Cynthia Villar rejects dynasty tag: It was legacy of my father
The younger Villar is set to leave the House as she will run for the Senate in the 2025 polls.
Controversial
Senator Villar was the second aspirant to formalize her House bid on Monday, coming after controversial figure Rose Nono Lin, who is seeking the congressional seat of Quezon City’s 5th District.
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Lin is the wife of Lin Wei Xiong, the Chinese national who is said to be the financial manager of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., the company that was dragged into the spotlight in 2021 after it was tapped to provide COVID-19 pandemic supplies despite a small paid-up capital of P625,000.
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READ: Dargani confirms Lin Wei Xiong’s post as Pharmally’s financial manager
READ: Chinese trader added in Pharmally graft case
In an ambush interview, Lin was asked about a show-cause order issued by the House committee on dangerous drugs, to which she declined to comment. Lin was asked to attend the panel’s hearing after her and her husband’s name surfaced in the probe on warehouses allegedly used to store illegal drugs.
Incumbent Parañaque (2nd District) Rep. Gus Tambunting also filed his COC, seeking reelection. He will be up against Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, who filed his COC last October 1.
READ: Yamsuan assures: Running for Parañaque House seat won’t affect duties
Earlier too at Comelec-NCR, former Marikina lawmaker Miro Quimbo, husband of current Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, filed his COC.
The Quimbos’ decision was one of the most-anticipated moves under the local political scene, as there were rumors that Rep. Stella would go for another term at the House, as she is eligible for reelection.
Not cooperative
According to Quimbo, they did not want to run at the same time, as they agreed that one of them has to attend to their children. However, he said the city government—headed now by Mayor Marcelino Teodoro—was not cooperative in implementing programs.
READ: Quimbo says they’re running due to blocked projects in Marikina
In Metro Manila alone, 17 aspirants filed their COCs on Monday, pushing the total number of possible candidates across 33 districts to over 60.
Aside from the names mentioned above, there are other individuals who filed their COCs in an attempt to enter—or reenter—Congress. Earlier, incumbent lawmakers and Young Guns bloc members La Union (1st District) Rep. Paolo Ortega and Zambales (1st District) Rep. Jefferson Khonghun filed their COCs, both seeking a second term.
“Isang malaking karangalan para sa akin na muling makapaglingkod bilang kinatawan ng unang distrito ng La Union. Ang aking hangarin ay hindi lamang para sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng ating distrito, kundi para na rin sa pag-angat ng ating bansa,” he said.
“Patuloy tayong magtutulungan at magsusumikap para sa mas magandang La Union at Pilipinas. Naniniwala ako na mas marami pa tayong magagawa para sa ikabubuti ng ating distrito at ng buong bansa,” he added.
“Itutuloy po natin ang pagseserbisyo sa mamamayan ng Zambales. Ito naman ang ating trabaho bilang kinatawan sa Kongreso, ang paglingkuran ang mga mahal nating Kalalawigan upang mabigyan ng Maayos na Representasyon sa Kamara at maipag patuloy ang mga proyekto sa imprastruktura, social services, scholarship at serbisyong medikal,” Khonghun noted.
Davao (1st District) Rep. Paolo Duterte also filed his COC earlier through Atty. Elijah Manuel Pepito.
Meanwhile, former lawmaker Alfredo Garbin Jr. is looking to return to Congress through the Ako Bicol party-list, of which he is the second nominee. According to Garbin, House committee on appropriations chairperson Rep. Elizaldy Co will still be the first nominee, while Atty. John Chan will be the third nominee.
Incumbent Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, who was the party-list’s second nominee in 2022, will be running for the legislative seat of Albay’s first district.
“Bumalik ako sa Kongreso kasi mas makakatulong ako doon,” Garbin said.
Earlier too, Tingog party-list formalized its return bid as nominees filed their certificates of candidacy.
“Our mission has always been to uplift the voices of those who are overlooked,” said Rep. Jude Acidre. “As we head into this election, we will continue to champion the rights and welfare of marginalized communities, ensuring that their concerns are prioritized in legislative discussions.”
Third-termer Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman meanwhile will run for Basilan’s gubernatorial post, with Maluso Mayor Hanie Bud seeking to occupy Hataman’s current post.
House aspirants only have until October 8, Tuesday, to file their COCs. Previously, Comelec-NCR Assistant Regional Election Director Jovencio Balanquit urged aspirants to file their COCs ahead of time, so that any possible error in their COC can be rectified before the deadline strikes.
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According to Balanquit, their office in Barangay Greenhills, San Juan features an initial checking desk, where aspirants can have their COC checked for errors or lacking requirements.
