President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. announced on Thursday the 12-person senatorial lineup of the ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ alliance for the upcoming 2025 national elections.
The list includes two of his former rivals in the 2022 presidential race among other familiar faces in Philippine politics.
In his speech at a convention held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, President Marcos introduced the following on stage:
- Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr.
- Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay
- Senator Pia Cayetano
- Former Senator Panfilo Lacson
- Senator Lito Lapid
- Senator Imee Marcos
- Former Senator Manny Pacquiao
- Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr.
- Former Senator Vicente Sotto
- Senator Francis Tolentino
- ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo
- Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar
Lacson and Pacquiao lost to Marcos in the 2022 presidential elections. They are seeking a return to the Senate along with Sotto, who ran for vice president in 2022, in tandem with Lacson.
Imee, the president’s sister, is hoping for a fresh six-year term. Cayetano, Lapid, Revilla and Tolentino have the same goals. Imee was unable to attend the convention because she was already busy campaigning in the provinces, according to the President.
Tulfo and Villar, meanwhile, aim to continue lawmaking duties this time with the Senate from the House of Representatives.
After spending years under the executive branch, Abalos and Binay eye a return to legislative roles for the upper chamber.
“They are the lineup of the (Bagong Pilipinas) alliance. With their quality and experience, I have great confidence that they will be our partners in the pursuit of progress and continued development for our nation,” President Marcos said.
‘Bagong Pilipinas’ is a coalition of major political parties allied with the Marcos administration including his Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, Lakas-CMD led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, and National Unity Party.
