The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Wednesday that a total of 43,033 individuals have filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) and certificates of nomination and acceptance (CON-CANs) during the filing period from October 1 to 8 for the upcoming national and local elections.
In a press briefing, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia shared that 33,652, or 78.20 percent, of the candidates for the 2025 midterm elections are male, while 9,381 (21 percent) are female.
Garcia reported that 183 individuals filed COCs for the Senate, a significant increase compared to 153 in the 2019 midterm elections and 176 in the 2022 polls.
Meanwhile, a total of 190 CON-CANs were submitted by party-list groups, Garcia added. Out of the 160 party-list organizations that filed their intent to participate, 155 successfully submitted their CON-CANs.
“As a result, only 155 party-lists will be included in the official ballots,” Garcia said, noting that groups such as SMILE, ACT AS ONE, KASAMA, MARINO, and STL failed to submit their required documents. In contrast, 270 party-list groups filed their CON-CANs in the 2022 elections.
The final count of national and local candidates will be determined by December, according to Garcia.
Garcia also mentioned that the filing period was generally peaceful, with the exception of a shooting incident in Sharif Aguak, Maguindanao, and a COC-snatching case in Negros Occidental. Several people were injured in the Maguindanao incident, prompting the establishment of a satellite registration site outside the province to allow local candidates to file their COCs.
WPP Denies Quiboloy Endorsement
In a separate development, the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) has denied endorsing Pastor Apollo Quiboloy as a senatorial candidate.
WPP President Sonny Matula clarified in a statement on Wednesday that the party has not issued a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) to Quiboloy, who is running for a national position.
“We categorically state that Quiboloy has no official endorsement from the WPP leadership and is not a member of the party,” Matula said. He added that the party will take legal action to protect its integrity once the investigation is completed.
“We will seek the cancellation of the CONA and pursue legal charges against those who unlawfully issued the document,” Matula emphasized.
Quiboloy filed his COC for senator under the WPP, through his legal representative, Atty. Mark Tolentino, on Tuesday. According to Comelec Resolution No. 11045, any candidate who submits a CONA not signed by the authorized party representative will be classified as an independent candidate.