COC filing Day 7: Prominent faces, new aspirants, huge filer turnout

Gimmicks get more lively, creative outside Manila Hotel where the filing of COCs for the 2025 midterm elections is going on.

MANILA, Philippines — It was a jam-packed second to the last day of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) and certificates of nomination and acceptances (CONAs) for the 2025 elections as prominent faces, new aspirants, and more turnouts of filers filled the Manila Hotel Tent City on Monday.

As early as 8 a.m., hundreds of supporters of different aspirants flocked outside the COC filing venue carrying their own gimmicks despite the gloomy weather.

Reelectionist Bong Revilla, former Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, and former Senator Manny Pacquiao who hailed from the same administration slate formalized their senatorial bids on Monday. All administration bets have filed their COCs.

Former senator Bam Aquino is also seeking a Senate comeback after sitting out a senatorial bid in the 2022 elections while former senator Gringo Honasan and Medal of Valor awardee Ariel Querubin also formalized their Senate bids. Former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson will be running as senator.

READ: Vendor files COC for senator; appeals for sick child, hits PGH budget cut

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Some senatorial aspirants also turned heads at the COC filing such as Nelson Ancajas, a street vendor, who was teary-eyed as he said that he filed his COC to use it as a platform to air grievances about the budget cut in the Philippine General Hospital and ask for help for his sick child.

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“Why am I crying? Because I remember my experience, then the stories I’ve heard from my fellow parents whose child has the same condition,” Ancajas said.

2021 Ramon Magsaysay awardee and fisherman Roberto Ballon filed his COC for senator. He was not garnering much attention first until he enumerated his achievements and experiences such as being an environmental and West Philippine Sea defender.

READ: Ramon Magsaysay awardee, fisherman Roberto Ballon files COC for senator

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno is eyeing a House seat as the first nominee of Akbayan Partylist. The party-list, gunning for a reelection in the lower chamber, vows to reclaim spot from “trapos” and political dynasties.

“When we return to Congress, we have two promises. We will take back the party-list from traditional politicians and dynasties. We will reclaim the party-list from businessmen and constructors, and return the party list for the base sector that needs real representation,” said Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña.

READ: Akbayan vows to reclaim party-list from ‘trapos,’ dynasties, abusers

Meanwhile, a total of 49 certificates of candidacy (COCs) for senators and 50 certificates of nomination and acceptance (Cona) for party-lists were filed on Monday at the Manila Hotel Tent City, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

The COCs and Cona filed on the seventh day of COC filing for the 2025 elections are significantly higher than filers recorded each day since the start of the filing.

Here are the 49 senatorial aspirants who filed their COCs on Monday:

1. Honasan, Gregorio Ballesteros
2. Querubin, Ariel Porfirio Oliva
3. Singson, Luis Crisologo
4. Abalos, Benjamin De Castro Jr.
5. Hinlo, Jesus Villanueva Jr.
6. Mata, Richard Teroso
7. Sahidulla, Nuryana Indanan
8. Gonzales, Norberio Norja
9. Ordiales, Pedro Gonzales
10. Aquino, Paolo Benigno IV Aguirre
11. Ballon, Roberto Amido
12. Reyes, James Jr. Maruzzo
13. Ancajas, Nelson
14. Era, Maria Fe Macapobre
15. “Bong” Revilla, Ramon Jr. Bautista
16. Escobal, Arnel Bondilles
17. Palomares, Diego Maceda
18. Tapado, Michael Balais
19. Arcega, Gerald Bauta
20. Lambino, Raul Loyola
21. Pagaragan, Mario Peralta Jr.
22. Pacquiao, Emmanuel Dapiran
23. De Alban, Angelo Castro
24. Meniano, Luther Gascon
25. Bruce, Hernando Baroga
26. Jumalon, Alice Oga
27. Partosa, Eulogio Aluarico
28. Perez, Epifanio Lavador
29. Valbuena, Mario Soliven Jr.
30. Maiquez, Freddie Alforte
31. Cadion, Leo Miranda
32. Malinao, Getter Aquino
33. Amir Hussin, Salipada Alih
34. Apolinario, Joel Abatonon
35. Capuyan, Allen Arat
36. Maquiso, Artemio Madridejo
37. Tam, Jose Abelardo Asuncion
38. Ongjoco, Oscar De Leon
39. Bonayag, Jacinto Bohol
40. Tuzara, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Teves
41. Casipong, Agapito Managase
42. D’ Angelo, David Delano
43. Lorenzana, Delfin Negrillo
44. Diaz, Fernando Fabian
45. De Guzman, Orlando Caranto
46. Dugue, Edgardo Libuan
47. Andrino, Jefrey Darang
48. Paliza, Nheling Lelis
49. Bautista, Eduardo Quirino

Here are the 50 party-lists that filed their CONA on Monday:

1. Damayang Filipino Movement, Inc. (DAMAYANG FILIPINO)
2. Ako Bicol Political Party (AKO BICOL)
3. Ako Ilocano Ako (AKO ILOCANO AKO)
4. Bisaya Gyud ( BISAYA GYUD)
5. One Filipinos Worldwide (OFW)
6. Health Alliance PH (HEAL PH)
7. Pamilya Ako (PAMILYA AKO)
8. Akbayan Citizens’ Action Party (AKBYN)
9. 1 Munti Regional Party List Organization (1MUNTI)
10. Help Pilipinas (HELP PILIPINAS)
11. Abang Lingkod Inc. (ALP)
12. Kalinga Partylist (KALINGA PARTY LIST)
13. BH Bagong Henerasyon (BH BAGONG HENERASYON)
14. Lungsod Aasenso (Lunas Partylist)
15. Kusug Tausug (KUSUG TAUSUG)
16. Philreca Party-List (PHILRECA)
17. Kababaihan Kabalikatan para sa Kapakanan at Kaunalaran ng Bayan (4K)
18. Partido sa Bagong Pilipino (PBP)
19. Uswag Ilonggo Party (USWAG)
20. APEC Party- List (APEC)
21. Advocates and Keepers Organization of OFW, Inc. (AKO-OFW INC.)
22. One Coop (ONE COOP)
23. Agimat ng Masa (AGIMAT)
24. Babae Ako para sa Bayan Inc. (BABAE AKO)
25. Turismo Isulong Mo (TURISMO)
26. Magsasaka Partylist (MAGSASAKA)
27. Partido Maharlika (PM)
28. Advocates and Keepers Organization of OFW (AKO OFW)- Withdrawal
29. Koalisyon ng mga Actibong Tumutulong sa mga Retirado at Ordinaryong Pilipino ( KATROPA)
30. Kasambahay Tayo, Inc. (KASAMBAHAY)
31. Alagaan Matin Ating Kalusugan Party- List (ANAKALUSUGAN)
32. Maagap Partylist (MAAGAP)
33. Bagong Maunlad na Pilipinas (BAGONG PILIPINAS)
34. Maharlilang Pilipino sa Bagong Lipunan ( MPBL)
35. Pamilyang Magsasaka (PM)
36. Ipatupad For Workers Inc (IPATUPAD)
37. Abante Bistak ( ABANTE BISDAK)
38. Ako Tanod Inc ( AKO TANOD )
39. Tingog Sinirangan ( TINGOG )
40. Friends of the Poor and Jobless – ( FPJ )
41. Laang Kawal ng Pilipinas (LKP)
42. Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL)
43. Duterte Youth Party List (DUTERTE YOUTH)
44. Walang Iwanan sa Free Internet, Inc. (WIFI)
45. Balikatan of Filipino Families (BFF)
46. Hugpong Federal Movement of the Philippines (HFMPI)
47. Bayan Responsibilidad Ko (BARKO)
48. Alliance of Certified Enforcers (ACE)
49. Bunyog (Pagkakaisa) Party (BUNYOG)
50. Kasosyo Producer-Consumer Exchange Association Inc. (AA-KASOSYO)