MORE aspiring candidates for the #BotoNgKabataan 2025 midterm polls flocked to the Manila Hotel Tent City on October 3, the third day of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs).

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) recorded 12 aspiring senators and nine party-list groups who filed their COCs and certificates of nomination and acceptance (CONA) on Thursday.

The running total for aspiring senators and party-list is now at 39 and 35, respectively.

Among those who joined the Senatorial race were reelectionist senators Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and Christoper “Bong” Go. Along with them was actor Philip Salvador, who is also running for a senatorial seat in the 2025 polls.

They are all running under Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Meanwhile, celebrity cardiologist Dr. Willie Ong, who is battling cancer, also filed his COC for senator through his wife, Dr. Liza Ong.

Fight against illegal drugs

Speaking to reporters, dela Rosa, who chairs the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said he would continue his advocacy. 

“I will continue my fight against illegal drugs and criminality, and for national defense and security, we will see to it that our national defense posture [will] be credible enough against foreign invaders,” said the senator.

If re-elected, dela Rosa said he would continue to push for the “restoration of death penalty for high-level drug traffickers” and return the mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

Meanwhile, Go, chair of the Senate committee on health and demography, highlighted his achievements in the past five years, which were mostly about “upgrading and establishing” hospitals.

“Isa sa aking adbokasiya nung nanalo po ako ay ang health. Nabigla po tayo nung panahon ng pandemya kaya ‘di po ako nagkakamali, the more we should invest sa ating healthcare,” he stressed.

He added that he would also advocate for food security, employment, housing, education, sports, and the youth.

“Tandaan po natin, isang paraan po na labanan natin ang iligal na droga through sports. Get into sports, stay away from drugs to keep us healthy and fit,” Go added.

Salvador, on the other hand, said he would push for measures for “peace and order” in the country.

“Palalakasin ko ang ating ahensya na nagpapatupad ng batas upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng publiko tulad ng pagdadagdag ng budget para sa modernization ng ating mga kapulisan at kasundaluhan,” he emphasized.

While he is not against the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, Salvador said he wants drug addicts to undergo rehabilitation.

“Kasi po maski na addicts ‘yan, meron pa ring pamilyang nagmamahal sa kanila. Bigyan din natin ng pag-asang makabalik sila sa lipunan,” the actor explained.

A ‘faith-based’ campaign

Facing the media, Ong’s wife turned emotional as she thanked those who prayed for the cardiologist’s recovery. Ong is currently in Singapore receiving reatment for abdominal cancer.

Asked how the senatorial aspirant plans to campaign, lawyer Gilbert Lauengco said Ong will return to the Philippines to do a “limited physical campaign” by December.

“By February, he will go [to] areas [where] we feel like that he will need to be physically present,” Ong’s legal counsel said.

While a physical campaign may be challenging, Lauengco said that this will be a “faith-based campaign” for the cancer-stricken cardiologist.

Ong, who has millions of social media followers, will also utilize social media platforms for his campaign, he added.

Lauengco stressed that Ong is “fully confident” that he will be able to carry out the responsibilities of a senator if elected, noting that the cardiologist is “well aware” of his limitations for campaigning and participating as an active senator.

More party-list groups

Several party-list groups including 1-Agila Party-list, SWERTE Party-list, FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list, and Ahon Mahirap Party-list also filed their certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) on Thursday.

Senator Grace Poe was sighted at the Manila Hotel, accompanying his son Brian Poe Llamanzares in filing for FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list’s CONA. Llamanzares said the party-list will focus on food, progress, and justice.

SWERTE party-list hopes to give voice to solo parents in Congress. At the same time, Ahon Mahirap Party-list aims to work on measures that will remove the age limit in employment and include financial literacy in the basic education curriculum.

‘Generally peaceful’

Comelec chair George Garcia said that the third day of filing of COCs remained “generally peaceful.”

Citing reports of the poll body’s operations center, Garcia said, “Wala pong kahit anong insidente ng karahasan, violence, o irregularity, o disturbance sa lahat ng sites natin for filing.”

“Therefore, patuloy po itong generally peaceful,” he added.