MANILAwinner club, Philippines — Sen. Francis Tolentino is the first of the seven reelectionist senators who filed a certificate of candidacy yesterday in Manila, the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) delegated place for senatorial aspirants who want to submit their COCs.

He said yesterday in an interview with reporters that he will focus on the continuity of his platform focusing on foreign policy should he win again as senator.

He highlighted his alignment with the administration of President Marcos and the shared goal of strengthening diplomatic relations to benefit the country.

“We need to engage with multiple countries… and work diplomatically to achieve both our security and economic objectives,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino described the filing process as seamless and efficient, stating that it was fast.

“They guided us where to go and there was a question-and-answer portion as well,” he said.

In his message to the public, Tolentino urged voters to take the 2025 elections seriously, stressing the importance of scrutinizing candidates thoroughly.

“I ask the public to really utilize this fundamental exercise, vote wisely and pray before casting your vote. Let’s study the background of the people we are electing,” he advised.

Tolentino is one of the senatorial bets under President Marcos’ Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas.

Meanwhile, Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee was the very first aspirant to file his COC at the Comelec.

Lee submitted his COC as soon as the Comelec opened the door at 8 a.m. yesterday for the first day of COC filing for all those running in the May 2025 national and local elections.

The party-list representative from Sorsogon said he would be running for senator along with internet personality and 2022 vice presidential candidate Dr. Willie Ong under the political party Aksyon Demokratiko.

Lee said he has decided to run for senator with the belief that he could serve the people better than just being in Congress. If elected, he will push for affordable food and accessible medical care for all Filipinos.

Hours before the start of the filing of COC, Lee’s supporters braved the heavy rain and came to the Manila Hotel, which served as the venue for filing of COCs for those running for senator and party-list groups.

Following Lee was independent candidate David Paul Chan, a mechanical engineer. Chan said he has no political background but opted to throw his hat in the senatorial ring so he could push for sustainable energy.

He added he has submitted to President Marcos a 500-page proposal on sustainable energy and economic reforms but remained unacted upon.

Calling himself “Senador Ligtas,” former Sangguniang Kabataan chair Felipe Montealto also filed his COC yesterday. He said he will be running as an independent candidate and will push for his advocacy of providing quality education and modernizing health care if he wins.

He dubbed himself as an “other option” from traditional politicians. He also assured the public that he could sustain a national campaign using traditional and modern media.

Alexander Encarnacion, an electrician-carpenter, also filed his COC for senator yesterday.

He said he has so much to offer the country as he invented the “Laser-Co Superfortress Law” – allegedly his proposed solution to the country’s longstanding problems of crime and corruption.

“In 2017, I was able to discover this Laser-Co Superfortress. Apart from corruption, this can be used to deter the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country,” he claims.

An independent candidate, Encarnacion said this invention was officially registered at the National Library of the Philippines in 2019.

He even appealed to President Marcos and the country’s lawmakers to unite with him in this endeavor.

“I am asking President BBM, Congress and the Senate: Let us help one another. This Laser-Co Superfortress is the best and last resort to end crime and corruption,” Encarnacion said.

Another senatorial aspirant who filed his COC is Joey Montemayor, a doctor-lawyer.

He said if he is given a seat in the Senate, he will prioritize the health sector.

“The health sector – our nurses, doctors are being taken for granted. The salary is very low, thus they lose the motivation to serve although their love for the Filipinos and for their patients remain. Therefore, focus should also be given to our health workers,” he stressed.

Also set on joining the Senate race is Janice Padilla, a former teacher from Legazpi City, Albay.

She said it is her first time to run for senator as an independent candidate.

“I want to serve the Filipino people and the nation. I used to be a teacher and I can see that we need to fix laws that are only bringing suffering to our country and to our people,” said Padilla.

She said that many teachers are having difficulty coming up with learning materials because of their meager salary.

“With their low salary comes the increasing prices of commodities. What can the government do? There should be an automatic raise in the salaries of employees both in the public and the private sector,” she added. — Rhodina Villanuevawinner club, Mark Ernest Villeza

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