by Almira Louise S. Martinez, Reporter

TikTok, a short-form video social media platform, encourages its Filipino users to report misinformation and harmful content on the platform in line with the Philippines’ 2025 midterm elections.听

鈥淚n a global community, it鈥檚 natural for people to have different opinions but our goal is to operate on a shared set of facts and reality,鈥� Peachy A. Paderna, Philippine Public Policy Manager at TikTok, told reporters on Thursday.

In January, the social media platform launched an in-app Philippine Elections Center site in partnership with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), and the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) to avoid the spread of misinformation, and promote reliable and trustworthy election-related content. 听

TikTok鈥檚 Philippine Election Center site houses verified 鈥渃ritical election resources鈥� such as voting procedures, polling locations, key election dates, and other essential information regarding elections.

According to Ms. Paderna, the platform鈥檚 community guidelines are based on three key themes to ensure the safety of its users – balancing harm prevention and expression, embracing human dignity, and ensuring actions are fair.

鈥淲e also rely on the larger TikTok community to help us spot content that we may not have caught in the initial phase,鈥� Ms. Paderna added.

Although the social media company has over 40,000 professionals and machine technology that handles content moderation, Ms. Paderna said users are still encouraged to report harmful content.听

Users can find the in-app report button under the share feature of the platform. Violence, hate and harassment, self-harm, nudity, and misinformation are some of the available reasons to file a report.听

鈥淲e want to make sure that our community of users stays safe even as we promote the diversity of ideas on the platform,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e do not allow misinformation that may cause significant harm to individuals or society regardless of intent.鈥澨�听

Reported accounts and videos听

From July to September 2024, the video hosting site took down 4.5 million videos in the Philippines, of which 99.7% were removed proactively due to violations of the platform鈥檚 community guidelines. In addition, 98% of the reported videos were removed within 24 hours.听听

鈥淲hen content is taken down or acted on by our enforcement team, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the [content creator鈥檚] account will be taken down all the time,鈥� Ms. Paderna said.听

Getting banned on TikTok depends on the gravity of the violations. 鈥淪ometimes all it takes is one post, sometimes it takes multiple posts,鈥� the TikTok executive added.听

The severity of violations can be categorized as significant and moderate harm. Content that leads to severe forms of physical harm, such as life-threatening injury or death, falls under ‘significant harm’. Meanwhile, moderate harm is false or misleading content regarding treatments or prevention of health-related issues that could not lead to life-threatening concerns.听听

Ms. Paderna noted that mass reporting would not help the video or account be removed from the platform.听听

鈥淥ne thing that we want to remind everybody is that it’s not a matter of people reporting one account,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e don’t need multiple reports to take down or pay attention to a violation.鈥澨�听

鈥淲e want to ensure that actions are fair so that when we take enforcement action, it鈥檚 always in fair way, it鈥檚 always just, it鈥檚 always rational,鈥� Ms. Paderna said.听

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Friday that it is aiming for a higher overseas voter turnout in the 2025 elections, with the pilot implementation of online voting starting April 13.听听

In a speech during an election forum led by the Philippine Press Institute, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said the poll body aims to achieve at least a 50% voter turnout from the more than 1.2 million overseas voters in the upcoming midterm election. 听

To promote voter participation, Mr. Garcia said that the COMELEC, authorized by Republic Act No. 10590, which amended the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003, is mandated to explore new voting systems, such as online voting.听

Overseas voters will need to undergo the pre-voting enrollment process before being able to cast their votes from April 13 to May 12.听

Mr. Garcia said that the new voting method is a viable option for overseas voters who may lack access to Philippine embassies and consulates, especially the more than 300,000 Filipino seafarers.

“Kasi kailangan pa nila dumaan听 sa听 isang听 pier,听 hahanapin pa ang听 embahada,听 konsulada听 para听 lang听 sila听 makaboto [You see, they still need to go through a pier, then look for the embassy or consulate just so they can vote],” Mr. Garcia said. 听

“Nobody should be left behind; everybody should be allowed to vote,” he added.听听

Ms. Garcia said this also aims to supplement overseas absentee voting by mail, which has听 unfortunately seen a non-turnout rate of around 90%.听

“Sana听 kahit听 midterm听 election听 at听 least听 boboto听 ka gamit听 lang听 ang听 cellphone,听 laptop听 mo, o kaya听 ipad,听 palagay ko naman听 po听 kahit听 nasa听 bahay听 o听 nagtatrabaho makakaboto ka [I hope that even for midterm elections, you can vote using just your cellphone, laptop, or even an iPad. I believe that whether you’re at home or working, you’ll still be able to vote],鈥� Mr. Garcia said.听听

As of Friday, Mr. Garcia said the COMELEC has recorded more than 40,000 voters who have undergone the pre-voting enrollment process for internet voting.听听

The commission is optimistic that this number will increase as the month-long voting period progresses.

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana,

BROTHERS Erwin and Bienvenido 鈥淏en鈥� T. Tulfo are the top senatorial bets of Filipinos for the 2025 midterm elections, an October survey, conducted after the filing of certificate of candidacy (CoC), found.

Market research firm Acquisition Apps, Inc. reported that ACT-CIS Rep. Tulfo maintained his lead with 62.33% of respondents saying they would vote for him, up from 58% in September.

His brother, Ben, who is a broadcaster and media executive, tailed Rep. Tulfo in the overall ranking with 49% voter preference after he filed his CoC, up from 42.96%.

鈥淭he Tulfo brothers have this image that they will fight for you,鈥� President and Chief Executive Officer Martin Xavier D. Pe帽aflor told 大象传媒 on the sidelines of the survey launch in Makati City.

He noted the brothers have a strongman personality close to former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, which makes them appealing to voters. Filipino voters, he said, still look for such personality in potential leaders.

The Tulfo brothers are also 鈥渞elatable鈥� and 鈥減ro-people,鈥� as exemplified by their social media presence, Mr. Pe帽aflor said, which added to their appeal.

Former Senate President Vicente 鈥淭ito鈥� C. Sotto III ranked third with 46.50% this month, a slight increase from 44% last month; while reealectionist senators Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano and Christopher Lawrence 鈥淏ong鈥� T. Go ranked fourth and fifth, respectively, with 46.08% and 45.50%.

Mr. Pe帽aflor said the former Duterte aide Mr. Go has detached himself from the shadow of the former president and is now known for his Malasakit Centers. This allowed him to boost his popularity among voters despite his former boss facing scrutiny over his deadly drug war.

Boxing icon turned lawmaker Emmanuel 鈥淢anny鈥� D. Pacquiao placed sixth with 42.21%, followed by former Senator Panfilo 鈥淧ing鈥� M. Lacson with 38.92%. Both politicians ran in the 2022 national elections as presidents but lost.

Also among the Top 12 were Makati Mayor Mar-len Abigail 鈥淎bby鈥� S. Binay (36.17%), former Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. (33.42%), SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta (31.88%), reelectionists Senator Manuel 鈥淟ito鈥� M. Lapid (31.67%), and Senator Francis N. Tolentino (31.46%).

DARK HORSE
Mr. Pe帽aflor said there are three possible 鈥渄ark horses鈥� in the tight senate race, particularly former senator Francis Pancratius 鈥淜iko鈥� N. Pangilinan (28.29%), Las Pi帽as Rep. Camille A. Villar (24.92%), and former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis 鈥淐havit鈥� C. Singson (14.67%).

He said Mr. Pangilinan, who is leveraging TikTok, shows a strong social media standing. The survey also showed that Ms. Villar is among the biggest gainers after climbing 8-points to 24.92% from only 16% in September.听 听

Mr. Singson, meanwhile, is considered an 鈥渙utlier,鈥� Mr. Pe帽aflor said.

On Senator Maria Imelda Josefa 鈥淚mee鈥� R. Marcos鈥� ranking, Mr. Pe帽aflor said her supporters, especially from her bailiwick in Northern Philippines felt betrayed when she exited from her brother, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.鈥檚 senatorial slate.

鈥淭hey feel betrayed by her aligning with the Vice President…That鈥檚 the reason why she went independent and that鈥檚 the reason why she鈥檚 number 18,鈥� he told 大象传媒.

鈥淲hen we started monitoring this, Senator Imee Marcos was in the top 8…So, we were really surprised that she came down, and it鈥檚 related to our current events.鈥�

The survey was administered between Oct. 10-12 via a mobile-based respondent application with a sample size of 2,400 registered voters.

In a position paper, the Political Economic Elemental Researchers and Strategists (PEERS) also said the government should strictly monitor campaign financing, and level the playing field for marginalized groups amid the hijacking of political elites.

鈥淭o prevent political parties, wealthy individuals, and oligarchs from using the party-list system as a backdoor to Congress, a stricter and more explicit legal definition of 鈥榤arginalized and underrepresented sectors鈥� should be established,鈥� according to the group.

The position paper comes just as the Commission on Elections ended the filing period for certificates of candidacy, which saw 184 Senatorial aspirants and 190 party-list groups seeking congressional seats.

Apart from banning political dynasties, PEERS said the government should put a cap on financial contributions to party-list groups, with a stricter reporting requirement on campaign spending to prevent political elites from bankrolling them.

鈥淧arty-list groups should disclose their donors. A watchdog agency should audit these disclosures to ensure the funds are not from wealthy individuals or corporations that do not align with the marginalized sectors,鈥� it said.

Moreover, changes to the party-list system should include the implementation of seat quotas for sectoral groups, ensuring balanced representation in Congress and revisiting the 2% national voting threshold for political parties, PEERS noted.

A party-list group must get at least 2% of the total national vote to secure a seat at the House of Representatives.

The current voting threshold could 鈥渇avor more established or wealthier groups,鈥� PEERS said, urging the government to lower the vote requirement or implement a proportional voting system, where received votes directly correspond to the number of seats a party-list can win.

鈥淭he number of groups participating in the party-list system has grown, but there has also been a shift toward more politically connected or mainstream parties securing these seats,鈥� a part of PEERS鈥� position paper stated.

鈥淲hile some genuinely marginalized groups continue to gain representation, others argue that the system has been diluted, with powerful families and political dynasties fielding candidates through this mechanism.鈥�

The Philippine party-list system was created by the 1987 Constitution, with its framers seeing the system as allowing underrepresented sectors to participate in the lawmaking process. It has since been expanded in 2013 after the Supreme Court ruled that political parties could also participate in the party-list system.

鈥淭his broadened the system鈥檚 scope, prompting criticisms that traditional political elites and powerful interest groups were co-opting the party-list slots, weakening the system鈥檚 original intent,鈥� PEERS said, referring to the tribunal ruling a decade ago.

The government should consider reducing the maximum seats for groups to provide more 鈥渄iverse representation鈥� in the chamber. Party-lists are currently limited to three seats in the chamber.

A certain percentage of congressional seats must be allocated to specific sectors, including labor, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, among others, for more inclusive representation, it added.

At present, about 80% of the more than 300 congressmen are district representatives, while the rest of the seats are allotted to party-lists.

Further, PEERS said the Commission should be strengthened so it could screen party-list groups vying for a seat in Congress. 鈥淭his may involve requiring groups to provide proof of grassroots organizing and a transparent platform that reflects the interests of marginalized sectors.鈥�

Party-lists must also be required to submit yearly reports detailing the bills and services they rendered to the sectors they supposedly represent, PEERS added. Erring groups should potentially be barred from the system, it added.

They also pushed for a multi-stakeholder team composed of the academe, sectoral groups, and election watchdogs that would convene for regular reviews to ensure the party-list system still adheres with its 鈥渃onstitutional goals.鈥� 鈥� Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Lt. Col. Regie G. Albellera, chief of the Shariff Aguak Municipal Police, and officials of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, confirmed on Wednesday that a member of a Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team, who was hurt in the incident, died at a hospital at past 7 p.m., Tuesday.

Local officials told reporters the incident left Col. Montassir Eskak of the 1^st Provincial Mobile Force Company of the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office, a resident of Shariff Aguak, and two others in the group that provoked the hostilities, wounded.

Police and military officials said the incident erupted after the municipal office of the Commission on Elections failed to approve the candidacy for vice-mayor of a Maguindanaon man who only showed a certificate of nomination and acceptance from a political party, which cannot be used as a basis for the filing of his certificate of candidacy.

The vice mayoral aspirant, whose group figured in the hostilities, had eventually filed a CoC at the Comelec regional office in Cotabato City, according to PRO-BAR officials. 鈥� John Felix M. Unson

THE FILING of candidacies for the 2025 midterm elections has shown that Philippine dynastic politicians have become more brazen decades after the restoration of formal democracy in 1986, with the Senate experiencing a 鈥渘ew low鈥� as it鈥檚 dragged into sibling politics.

鈥淲e have seen more and more dynasty members filing their certificates of candidacy, as if they are entitled to it. They are more brazen than before,鈥� Arjan P. Aguirre, who teaches political science at Ateneo de Manila University, said in a Facebook Messenger chat on Tuesday.

He said this year鈥檚 filing of candidacies has also shown that the party-list system is being hijacked by wealthy people, turning it into a 鈥減opularity contest for celebrities鈥� and 鈥渁 new enterprise for business people.鈥�

The period for the filing of candidacy papers ended on Tuesday. As of Monday, 127 people were seeking a seat at the Senate, including two brothers of Senator Rafael 鈥淩affy鈥� T. Tulfo, a sister of Senator Alan Peter C. Cayetano, and the sister of Senator Mark A. Villar, whose term-limited mother is seeking a mayoralty post.

鈥淚n the Senate, we are witnessing a new low with the possibility of having three siblings in the 24-seat chamber, another family member replacing the term-limited mother, a sister who plans to stay with a brother, a sister replacing an outgoing sister, and a sister of the sitting president wanting to get re-elected,鈥� Mr. Aguirre said.

鈥淪hould they win, we will have a total of nine senators who are siblings 鈥� three Tulfos, two Cayetanos, two Villars and two Ejercito-Estrada,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭hey will join other members of the Senate who are also members of dynasties.鈥�

DECLINING INDEPENDENCE
Since the Senate is increasingly becoming a hub for dynastic politicians, its level of independence is declining, said Hansley A. Juliano, who teaches political science at the Ateneo de Manila.

鈥淚t means there鈥檚 not much radical progress to be expected on policymaking, its level of independence is not always guaranteed,鈥� he said via Messenger chat.

Mr. Juliano said at the national and local levels, many established dynasties are just being challenged and replaced by 鈥渆ither scions of dynasties and established families as well.鈥�

In Batangas province, the seventh most vote-rich province in 2022, former lawmaker Vilma Santos-Recto, wife of Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto, is running for the gubernatorial post with his son Luis, who is a television actor, as her running mate.

Her youngest son Ryan is running for representative of the province鈥檚 sixth district.

About 40 kilometers south of Batangas, a similar situation is seen: Incumbent Oriental Mindoro Govenor Humerlito 鈥淏onz鈥� Dolor is running for his last reelection with his brother, Provincial Administrator Hubert A. Dolor, as his running mate.

In Pampanga province north of the capital Manila, dynastic politics also thrives: Governor Dennis 鈥淒elta鈥� G. Pineda seeks to take the position of her mother Vice Governor Lilia 鈥淣anay鈥� G. Pineda, who is running for the gubernatorial post.

In Davao City in southern Philippines, former president Rodrigo R. Duterte is running for mayor alongside his son, incumbent Mayor Sebastian 鈥淏aste鈥� Z. Duterte.

The strongman politician鈥檚 oldest son, Davao Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte, seeks another reelection. All the while, her sister Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio has refused to participate in House hearings amid questions on her office鈥檚 previous and proposed budgets.

鈥淭here鈥檚 not much new to say about the local polls especially since small or thin dynasties continue to be normalized and accepted 鈥� there seems to be zero barriers to whole nuclear political families becoming involved in the polls,鈥� Mr. Juliano said.

鈥淲hile there are definitely brazen families, we cannot really expect much when there鈥檚 no money or resources going around for potential opposition candidates.鈥�

鈥淚f we want a serious shift in local elections, there really needs to be a conversation on serious and smart campaign financing for the opposition,鈥� the academic said.

Meanwhile, De La Salle University political science professor Anthony Lawrence Borja said that while there are more old names trying to return to power, there are new entries from opposition groups including the senatoriables of left-leaning Koalisyong Makabayan.

鈥淎s of now, it appears that for the legislative race, it is more diverse or even polarized in terms of candidates鈥� backgrounds,鈥� he said via Messenger chat.

鈥淥n one hand, we have new entries from the Makabayan bloc, other progressive candidates, and well-meaning celebrities,鈥� he added. 鈥淥n the other, we have a lot of old names trying to return to power, climb-up the greasy pole, or perpetuate their respective dynasties or factional blocs.鈥�

Makabayan has already fielded 11 candidates for the Senate representing various sectors including fisherfolk, farmers, women, teachers, and the urban poor.

Two labor leaders under Partido Lakas ng Masa, another opposition group, are also seeking a Senate seat.

Meanwhile, opposition personalities Paolo Benigno 鈥淏am鈥� Aguirre Aquino IV and Francis Pancratius 鈥淜iko鈥� Nepomuceno Pangilinan are seeking to return to the Senate. Senator Ana Theresia 鈥淩isa鈥� Hontiveros-Baraquel told One News鈥� The Big Story on Monday that she will campaign Mr. Aquino and Mr. Pangilinan and should they win, they would join the Senate minority.

The Senate minority is currently composed of Ms. Hontiveros and Senator Aquilino Martin de la Llana Pimentel III, who is running for congressman of Marikina City.

Mr. Borja said the civil society and the rest of the public need to 鈥渒eep an eye鈥� on the implementation of nuisance candidate provisions and developments in coalition-building efforts ahead of the elections.

Independent or non-aligned candidacies 鈥� genuine or not 鈥� may also thrive in next year鈥檚 elections, he said.

LAST DAY
Mr. Pangilinan filed his Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) to run for the Senate on the last day of registration on Tuesday. He ran as Vice President in 2022, but lost to Ms. Duterte. He aso previously served as a Senator from 2001 to 2013, and from 2016 to 2022.

A staunch advocate of agriculture, he said he aims to replicate his contribution under the second Aquino administration which brought down rice inflation to 8% from 15% within a year in 2014.

鈥淚 want to return again to solve the grievances of our countrymen,鈥� he said in Filipino after filing his CoC at the Manila Hotel. 鈥淲e are willing to put politics aside to help the government because hunger has no color.鈥�

Also among those who filed for a senatorial seat is indicted televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy, whose CoC was received by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) through an authorized representative.

The self-appointed son of God is facing charges of child abuse and human trafficking before the Davao City and Pasig City courts, respectively.

He is also facing several criminal charges in the United States, including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling.

Last month, he 鈥渟urrendered鈥� to the National Police after a weeks-long manhunt.

Meanwhile, former Manila City Mayor Francisco 鈥淚sko鈥� M. Domagoso aims for a city hall comeback after failing to secure the presidential post in 2022.

As of writing, a total of 127 Senate hopefuls have registered and 137 as party-list representatives.

The Philippines will hold midterm elections next year. Filipinos will elect their congressmen, mayors, vice mayors, and members of city councils on May 12, 2025. Twelve of the 24-member Senate will also be replaced. 鈥� with Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Mr. Dela Rosa, who served as a Mr. Duterte鈥檚 police chief, and Mr. Go, former Special Assistant to the President, filed their certificates of candidacy (CoC) on Thursday at the Manila Hotel, under the endorsement of the former chief executive.

The May 2025 elections will be a litmus test of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.鈥檚 popularity and a chance to consolidate power and groom a successor, which the influential Duterte family has signaled it is determined to stop after an acrimonious falling out.

Though 317 seats in the House of Representatives and thousands of regional and city posts are up for grabs among 18,000 positions, the attention is on 12 spots in the 24-seat Senate, a high-profile chamber with outsized influence and typically stacked with political heavyweights.

Mr. Dela Rosa, often regarded as the chief architect of Mr. Duterte鈥檚 war on drugs when he was police chief, said he would continue his advocacy for peace and order, and national defense. He would also lobby for mandatory Reserve Officers鈥� Training Corps.

鈥淚 will continue my fight against illegal drugs and criminality, and for national defense and security, we will situate that our national defense posture should be credible enough against foreign invaders,鈥� he told reporters after filing his CoC.

The war on drugs is currently under probe by the International Criminal Court due to the thousands of extralegal killings between 2016 and 2022, most of whom were urban poor. The former police chief said he received calls from the tribunal but admitted he is ignoring the court.

Health and food security will continue taking center stage among the platforms of Mr. Go, who is the current chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography. He is also the main proponent of the Malasakit Centers program.

When asked if Davao City Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte would run for Senate, Mr. Go said the Filipinos should just wait and see until the last day of filing on Oct. 8, Monday.

Under the same banner, film star Philip Mikael R. Salvador also filed his CoC for a senatorial seat.听 Mr. Salvador said he would also push for peace and order in the upper chamber if he won.

Among his platforms include allowing drug addicts to undergo rehabilitation, but clarified he is not against Mr. Duterte鈥檚 deadly war on drugs. In 2016, he tried to run as vice governor of Bulacan but was excluded from the voters鈥� list days before the local polls.听

In a September 2024 Social Weather Stations survey, Senators Dela Rosa and Go fell to the 11^th to 13^th spot from their March 2024 ranking of 5^th, and 10^th to 11^th, respectively. The SWS poll showed admin-endorsed candidates dominated the list of 12 preferred senatorial prospective candidates.

MARCOS ALLIES TAKE LEAD
A separate public opinion poll, likewise, showed politicians allied to the Marcos administration dominated the so-called Magic听12 for next year鈥檚 Senate race in the latest issue of the Philippine Public Opinion Monitor, conducted by WR Numero Research.

ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin T. Tulfo, who is running for senator under a coalition led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., topped the September 2024 survey.

He was followed by former Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III with 39.3% and radio personality Bienvenido T. Tulfo with 36.1%.

They were followed by former President Duterte with 32.4%, Sen. Pilar Juliana 鈥淧ia鈥� S. Cayetano with 30.4%, former senator Emmanuel 鈥淢anny鈥� D. Pacquiao with 30.2%, and Senator Ramon 鈥淏ong鈥� Revilla, Jr. with 29.3%, who were all tied at ranks 4^th to 7^th.

Also among those that could potentially win a senate seat were former senator Panfilo 鈥淧ing鈥� M. Lacson (24.4%), Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios R. Marcos (23.7%), Mr. Dela Rosa (23.2%), former senator Francis Pancratius 鈥淜iko鈥� N. Pangilinan (23.1%), and Senator Manuel 鈥淟ito鈥� Lapid (22.3%), who ranked 8^th to 12^th.

Meanwhile, cardiologist Willie T. Ong and Senator Go closely trail in 13^th (21.9%) and 14^th (21.5%) places, down from their 11^th (25.6%), and 9^th (29.5%) spots in the March 2024 survey, respectively.

The September poll saw Mr. Ben Tulfo, brother of the most preferred senate bet, enter the top three. Mr. Lapid also broke into the top 12 after ranking 17^th in March with 22%.

The poll was conducted a month before the filing of certificate of candidacies for the midterm elections next year.

Six of the people in the Magic 12 are part of the Marcos-led Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas such as Mr. Tulfo of ACT-CIS, Mr. Sotto, Ms. Cayetano, Mr. Pacquiao, Mr. Revilla, and Mr. Lapid. Mr. Lacson and Ms. Marcos, who were initially part of the list endorsed by the President, decided to run as independent candidates.

Only Mr. Pangilinan of the Liberal Party was able to enter the lineup among opposition personalities.

Major opposition groups such as the Liberal Party and Koalisyong Makabayan earlier told 大象传媒 that they would not, in any way, build bridges with the opposition-posturing movement of Mr. Duterte, whose six-year term was marked by activist killings and deaths under his bloody anti-drugs campaign.

The survey was conducted from Sept. 5 to 23 with a sample of 1,729 adults aged 18 and older. It has a margin of error of 卤 2% at a 95% confidence level. At the subnational level, the margin of error is 卤 6% for the National Capital Region, 卤 5% for North and Central Luzon, 卤 5% for South Luzon, 卤 6% for Visayas, and 卤 5% for Mindanao, all at the same 95% confidence level. 鈥� Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana,

PROMINENT politicians allied with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. formalized their bids for the Senate on the second day of registration on Wednesday.

Former Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, ex-Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, Sr., and action star turned lawmaker Manuel M. Lapid were among those who filed their certificates of candidacy.

The May 2025 elections will be a litmus test of Mr. Marcos鈥� popularity and a chance to consolidate power and groom a successor, which the influential Duterte family has signaled it is determined to stop after an acrimonious falling out.

Philippine presidents are limited to a single six-year term.

Though 317 seats at the House of Representatives and thousands of regional and city posts are up for grabs among 18,000 positions, the attention is on 12 spots in the 24-seat Senate, a high-profile chamber with outsized influence and typically stacked with political heavyweights.

Mr. Sotto said he wanted to finish overlooked pet bills including one that seeks to trim the bureaucracy.

鈥淭he bill that I filed before that was not acted upon should push through, and that is rightsizing of the government,鈥� he told reporters. He also cited the need to pass an anti-fake news bill, which he proposed in 2019.

Mr. Sotto lost to Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio in the 2022 race. He was Senate president during ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte鈥檚 term.

Mr. Lacson, who lost in the 2022 presidential election as Mr. Sotto鈥檚 running mate, said he would be a vanguard of the annual national budget. The former national police chief had been against pork barrel insertions when he was a senator.

鈥淚 will help President Marcos pursue his administration鈥檚 programs to benefit the majority of the Filipino people,鈥� he told reporters 鈥淲hat is right must be kept right, what is wrong must be set right.鈥�

Mr. Lacson said he is running independently despite the President鈥檚 endorsement.

Mr. Lapid declined to entertain questions from the media, saying his track record as a politician should speak for itself.

Meanwhile, presidential sister and Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios 鈥淚mee鈥� R. Marcos also filed her certificate. She was accompanied by her two sons and her mother, former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos.

Ms. Marcos, who is seeking reelection, earlier declined her brother鈥檚 endorsement, which she said was to avoid putting him in a difficult position.

Hansley A. Juliano, a political science professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, called the familiar names 鈥渃ontinuity candidates.鈥�

鈥淭hey have also tended to be on board traditional legislation, be it business-friendly legislation, additional insertions on preferred budget items, and likely establishing factions in the leadup to the election,鈥� he told 大象传媒 in a Facebook Messenger chat.

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana,

REGISTRATION on Tuesday opened in the Philippines for midterm elections next year, headlined by what could be a bitter proxy battle between President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his firebrand predecessor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Seventeen senatorial and 15 party-list hopefuls formalized their candidacies at a Commission on Elections (Comelec) satellite office inside the Manila Hotel, Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia told a news briefing.

The May 2025 elections will be a litmus test of Mr. Marcos鈥� popularity and a chance to consolidate power and groom a successor, which the influential Duterte family has signaled it is determined to stop after an acrimonious falling out.

Philippine presidents are limited to a single six-year term.

Though 317 seats at the House of Representatives and thousands of regional and city posts are up for grabs among 18,000 positions, the attention is on 12 spots in the 24-seat Senate, a high-profile chamber with outsized influence and typically stacked with political heavyweights.

Speculation has swirled that Mr. Duterte, 79, and two of his sons will contest the senatorial race to try to weaken Mr. Marcos. Mr. Duterte鈥檚 office and that of his daughter, Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The midterms come after the collapse of what was an unstoppable alliance between the two families that delivered a landslide election win for Mr. Marcos in 2022. Ms. Carpio had been the frontrunner for president in surveys but opted instead to become Mr. Marcos鈥檚 running mate.

But their relationship has since turned hostile, owing to policy differences, the unravelling of Mr. Duterte鈥檚 pro-China foreign policy and investigations into his bloody war on drugs, plus other scandals implicating his associates.

Ms. Carpio resigned from the Cabinet and last week suffered a humiliating two-thirds slashing of her office鈥檚 budget by a House led by the President鈥檚 cousin, after she refused to attend hearings and objected to scrutiny of her spending.

Senate seats could give the Dutertes a powerful platform in the Philippines鈥� personality-driven politics to shore-up support, challenge Marcos legislation and initiate investigations into his government.

鈥淎ll eyes will be indeed on who among them would run… or all of them,鈥� said Ederson Tapia, professor of public administration at the University of Makati. 鈥淭he Dutertes, notwithstanding the controversies hounding VP Sara, remain a formidable force.鈥�

Mr. Marcos is bolstering his base by endorsing big local names for the Senate, including three former movie actors, the daughter of the country鈥檚 richest man, plus two of his presidential election rivals, among them global boxing icon Emmanuel 鈥淢anny鈥� D. Pacquiao, Sr.

A notable absence from his Senate slate will be sister Maria Imelda 鈥淚mee鈥� R. Marcos, who is seeking reelection but declined her brother鈥檚 endorsement, which she said was to avoid putting him in a difficult position.

Jean Encinas-Franco, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, said success for Mr. Marcos in the midterms could be vital to his legacy.

鈥淚f the majority of those he endorsed win in the Senate and the House, it ensures that his legislative agenda will push through,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t ensures that he will have enough clout to anoint someone who he is going to support in the 2028 (presidential) elections.鈥�

Senator Francis N. Tolentino, who is running under the ruling Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, was the first among seven reelectionists to file his bid.

Bayan Muna party-list, which lost its re-election bid in the previous election, is seeking a comeback with human rights lawyer Neri J. Colmenares as its first nominee, followed by ex-House Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Isagani T. Zarate and for representative Ferdinand R. Gaite.

Meanwhile, at a separate filing office in Makati, outgoing Senator Ma. Lourdes 鈥淣ancy鈥� S. Binay-Angeles filed her certificate for Makati mayor. Her sister, outgoing Mayor Mer-len Abigail S. Binay-Campos, has said her husband was eyeing the post.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez in a Facebook post said he is gunning for his sixth term in the House as Leyte鈥檚 representative. He filed his certificate in the province.

MAGIC 12
Meanwhile, senatorial candidates from the ruling coalition got 10 of 12 spots in the race, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations.

The study, commissioned by Stratbase Group, showed that leading the race was Party-list Rep. Erwin T. Tulfo with 54% of Filipinos likely to vote for him.

He was followed by former Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III with 34%,听 and Senator Pilar Juliana 鈥淧ia鈥� S. Cayetano with 31%.

Hansley A. Juliano, a political science professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, said Senate independence is unlikely to be affected in case most administration candidates win.

鈥淚ndependence wise, we have seen before that the Senate, depending on their composition, can choose to be as supine to the President as the lower House or try to fight out its institutional independence,鈥� he told 大象传媒 in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Mr. Duterte鈥檚 preference rate dipped to 25% in September from 36% in March, putting him in the 4^th-5^th place from second. Tied with him was Senator Marcos, whose support increased by 3 points to 25% in September.

In the sixth and seventh spots were Senator Ramon 鈥淏ong鈥� B. Revilla, Jr. and ex-Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, Sr.

House Deputy Speaker and Las Pi帽as Rep. Camille Lydia A. Villar-Genuino climbed to the eighth spot in September with 21% from 20^th-24^th place in March.

Ms. Binay-Campos entered the 鈥渕agic 12鈥� on the ninth to 10^th spot, tied with Senator Manuel 鈥淟ito鈥� M. Lapid at 20%.

鈥淒ynastic names continue to dominate Senate races both due to name recall, incumbency and previous publicity record,鈥� Mr. Juliano said. 鈥淭his clientelist standard continues to persist to the detriment of newer and more professional voices, even if young people may be inclined to vote for progressive candidates.鈥�

From the administration slate, only Mr. Tolentino (14^th) and Interior Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr. (16^th-17^th) failed to make it to the top 12.

The filing of candidacies will end on Oct. 8. 鈥� with Reuters