These men and women form part of the grain among the 2025 senatorial candidates
In the days when this country’s political system consisted of two parties, the task of voters, with regard to Senate, was to elect the required number of names from a list of candidates mostly representing the traditional professions.
But the Election Day 2025 voters looking for 12 senators for the 20th Congress will have to scan a super-long list of candidates and separate the grain from the chaff, i.e., separate those who possess the intellect and experience for senatorial work from those who don’t.
There is plenty of chaff to set aside, led by a slew of show business and entertainment-industry personalities who think that a term as senator is a six-year engagement that one can bluff one’s way through.
But there is also grain to choose for the incoming Senate. The candidates do not all have the same political affiliation. Some belong to the parties comprising the administration-led Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas. Others belong to PDP-Laban, and the rest either belong to the smaller parties or are independent.
If they really and truly care for the future of this country, the voters should pick the grain in the list of senatorial candidates not on the basis of political affiliations but on their known integrity, record of public or private-sector service, intellectual capability and known positions or important national issues.
The following candidates comprise, in my humble opinion, part of the grain in the coming election’s list of senatorial candidates.
Panfilo Lacson. The fact that he (together with the late Sen. Joker Arroyo) refused to accept his pork barrel allocation during his earlier Senate terms is more than sufficient reason to return Ping Lacson to the Senate. But of course, he was also a conscientious legislator and a first-rate Chief of the Philippine National Police.
Tito Sotto. Sotto is one of the notable exceptions to the belief that entertainment-industry people should not be in Congress. Having been its president, Tito Sotto knows the ways and workings of the Senate. He deserves to be returned.
Francis Tolentino. The former mayor of Tagaytay City has to his credit the authorship of the recently approved laws establishing the limits of the Philippines’ maritime domain and laying down its archipelagic waterways. Re-electionist Tolentino did a creditable job as chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority.
Heidi Mendoza. Many years ago, Mendoza, while a member of the Commission on Audit, exposed herself to outmost personal and professional risk by exposing anomalies in this country’s defense establishment. In addition to the domestic recognition that she received for her courage, Heidi Mendoza was appointed by the United Nations to its auditing staff.
Abigail Binay. Being the mayor of a city is a major achievement, but being the mayor of this country’s financial capital is a great achievement. During the nine years that she was Makati City’s mayor, Binay established a reputation as a hands-on, no-nonsense urban chief executive.
Francis Pangilinan. Kiko Pangilinan is a staunch member of the Liberal Party – he was the party’s vice-presidential standard-bearer in the 2022 election – but the record shows that he was a sensible national-interest-prioritizing senator. Pangilinan’s will be a moderating voice in the next Senate.
Leila de Lima. Added to her commendable public service record – chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, Secretary of Justice and senator –de Lima’s illegal prosecution and seven-year detention by the Duterte administration should seal the case for her being among the winner in the coming Senatorial election.
Bam Aquino. This Liberal Party candidate has the advantage of bearing a nationally known surname – the surname of two presidents and a martyred political icon – but Bam Aquino established the credentials of a good senator during his days in the Senate. He will be a sensible and industries senator anew.
Neri Colmenares. This Makabayan bloc member is a first-rate lawyer and has been a persistent advocate of human rights, personal freedoms and the rule of law. The senate needs men like Colmenares.
Many Pacquiao. The gentleman from Sarangani brought no discredit to the Senate during his one-term service there – he was one of that chamber’s wealthiest members – but he brought outmost credit to this country by being one of world boxing’s all-time greats. Many Pacquiao should be returned to the Senate.
Luke Espiritu. Ateneo=trained Renecio Espiritu. Jr’s legal career has been focused on workers’ rights and social justice issues. Espiritu’s election will be a breath of fresh air for the Senate.
Ariel Querubin. This retired colonel has not seen observance of the military officer’s oath as a hindrance to promotion of good governance and public welfare. Querubin will bring balance and perspective to Senate deliberations.
These men and women form part of the grain among the 2025 senatorial candidates. Chel Diokno would be among them if he were running for senator. But he’s not. Diokno is running for a party-list representative’s set.
(llagasjessa@yahoo.com)