The dominant administration party, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), on Friday named Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., its chairperson, as its official senatorial candidate in the May 2025 midterm elections.
Revilla’s nomination is contained in Resolution 3, adopted during the party’s national convention presided over by its president, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, at Aguado in Malacañang.
The convention also adopted Resolution 1 and 2 — one designating its regional chairpersons and another authorizing its secretary general, Agusan del Norte Rep. Jose Aquino ll, to submit to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) its authorized signatories and their specimen signatures for nominating candidates in next year’s polls, respectively.
Addressing his party mates, Romualdez said Lakas-CMD would join a formidable administration alliance supporting candidates in next year’s polls.
The leader of the 307-strong House of Representatives added that Lakas-CMD would remain President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s reliable partner in pushing for policies and reforms that would benefit every Filipino.
“In 2025, we are not just fielding candidates — we are shaping the future. Lakas-CMD is proud to join the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas. This multiparty administration alliance will bring forth a formidable 12-man senatorial slate, as well as candidates for provincial, congressional, and city and municipal positions,” Romauldez told his party members.
For his part, Revilla thanked the Lakas-CMD for fielding him as the party’s senatorial candidate: “With beaming pride and gratitude, I humbly accept this nomination to be its candidate for senator in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections.”
“Through Speaker Martin, we have achieved a level of solidarity that our party has never reached before… We credit him for again making Lakas the ruling party. And because of this, it is with full confidence that I say to all of you – we are definitely in good hands,” Revilla said in his speech.
The appointed regional chairpersons were Reps. Ramon Guico Jr. for Region 1 (Ilocos provinces), Antonio Albano for Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Geraldine Roman for Region 3 (Central Luzon), Lani Mercado-Revilla for Region 4-A (Calabarzon), Arnan Panaligan for Region 4-B (Mimaropa), Joey Sarte Salceda for Region 5 (Bicol), Emarie Ouano-Dizon for Region 7 (Central Visayas), Gerryboy Espina for Region 8 (Eastern Visayas), Jurdin Jesus Romualdo for Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Maricar Zamora for Region 11 (Davao provinces), Ma. Alana Samantha Santos for Region 12 (Socsargen), Secretary General Aquino for Region 13 (Caraga), Yasser Alonto Balindong for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and Marvin Rillo for Metro Manila (National Capital Region).
The regional chairpersons also named were Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe for Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula), Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Jersy Palmares for Region 6 (Western Visayas), and Kalinga Gov. James Edubba for the Cordilleras.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Party (LP) announced yesterday that former Sen. Kiko Pangilinan will seek a fresh Senate term while former Vice President Leni Robredo will run for mayor of her hometown in Naga City, Camarines Sur.
LP Executive Vice President Lorenzo Tañada made the announcement during a national executive council meeting of the party held at the Club Filipino in San Juan City.
“In her (mayoralty) run for Naga, we could show that the Liberal Party is not only a national political party, but a local force where genuine change can begin,” Tañada said of Robredo’s decision to return to local politics.
Pangilinan, who was Robredo’s vice presidential running mate in the 2022 polls, will continue to pursue education and agricultural reforms as well as just governance.
“We are still here. We have not been unfazed, we will not back down. We have been through worse. The LP will always be a force to contend with,” Pangilinan said.
Meanwhile, former senator Leila de Lima has decided to represent a party-list organization through the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list along with former Rep. Erin Tañada and former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat.
The LP said they will also adopt former Senator Bam Aquino and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno as guest candidates should they announce their respective senatorial bids. Both figures are reportedly running under Aquino’s Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP) party.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Lakas-CMD names Revilla as Senate candidate, appoints regional chairmen.”
