Duterte-backed PDP-Laban faction fields 7 bets for senator

Seven individuals endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte and belonging to a faction of the PDP-Laban party filed their certificates of candidacy for senator on the last day of the filing period.

Among those who filed were presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, IT Secretary Gregorio Honasan, SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Anti-Corruption Commissioner Greco Belgica, broadcaster Rey Langit, Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones, and actor Robin Padilla.

President Duterte personally showed his support by attending the filing and raising the hands of the senatorial aspirants.

DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan II, a former military officer, is running as an independent.

Before entering politics, Honasan served as colonel and aide-de-camp of former defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and led coup attempts against former President Corazon Aquino.

House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, an advocate for the use of Ivermectin against COVID-19, also filed his COC for senator.

Actor and staunch Duterte supporter Robin Padilla also formalized his bid for senator.