Admin finalizes Senate 2025 bets

MANILA, Philippines — Leaders of the country’s largest political parties gathered on Monday at the Aguado Residence at Malacañang to finalize the administration coalition’s 12-person senatorial lineup and formulate a strategy for the 2025 midterm elections.

The gathering brought together leaders from President Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party (NP) and National Unity Party (NUP).

Discussed at the talks was the formation of the administration’s Senate slate for 2025.

Former Senate president Tito Sotto III leads the four-person bloc from the NPC. He is joined by former senator Panfilo Lacson, reelectionist Sen. Lito Lapid and Makati City Mayor Abby Binay.

The three from the NP bloc are reelectionist Senators Imee Marcos and Pia Cayetano, and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, who will be swapping posts with her mother, Sen. Cynthia Villar who is reportedly eyeing the mayor’s post in their home city.

Three candidates from Marcos’ PFP have also been named: reelectionist Sen. Francis Tolentino, returning senator Manny Pacquiao and Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

There will also be two from the ruling Lakas-CMD party, the country’s most dominant party, re-electionist Senator Bong Revilla and Rep. Erwin Tulfo of party-list ACT-CIS, a former broadcast journalist and DSWD chief.

“We are not just allies in name. We are united by a shared purpose – to serve our nation with integrity, strength and unwavering resolve,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, president of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) party whose membership in the House of Representatives reached 103, said.

“Our unity is our strength, and today, we solidify that bond to ensure that our vision for a better Philippines will continue to be realized. We are here not only to support the programs and projects of President Marcos but also to help realize his vision of unity towards lasting peace and prosperity for all. The challenges we face require a coalition that is not only strong but also harmonious,” Romauldez, first cousin of President Marcos who had already forged an alliance