EARLY BIRDS. Re-electionist Senator Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel III (left) and singer Freddie Aguilar (right) were the first ones to file their Certificate of Candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Manila on Thursday (Oct. 11, 2018). Accompanying Pimentel is his fiancee Kathryn Yu. (PNA photos by Ferdinand Patinio)
MANILA — Re-electionist Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and singer Freddie Aguilar are the first ones to file their Certificates for Candidacy (COCs) for senator at the start of the five-day filing period at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) main office in Manila Thursday morning.
Pimentel said he decided to file his COC at the first hour of the filing period for personal reasons.
“I would like to get this out of my mind and focus on my wedding next week. I’m getting married next week,” said the lawmaker after filing his COC at the third floor of the Palacio del Gobernador building in Intramuros.
He noted that he is seeking re-election since he has “unfinished legislative business to be pursued in the senate.”
Pimentel is running under the administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
The former senate president said that there are six to seven more candidates that will be running for senatorial seats under the party.
Meanwhile, Ferdinand “Freddie” Aguilar, singer and a known supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte, is also running under PDP-Laban.
“After 40 years po, nakumbinsi na po ako tumakbo. Matagal na po nila ako kinukumbinsi dahil daw po sa aking mga advocacies sa mga kanta ko at yung nagpapayag sa akin e mga ordinaryong mamamayan (I was convinced to run. For a long time, they have been convincing me to seek public office because of my advocacies stated in my songs, and what made me decide to run are the ordinary people),” he said in an interview.
Asked if his move to join the May 2019 polls has the blessing of President Rodrigo, he said, “Wala po, ordinaryong mamamayan ang kumumbinsi sa akin. Although, nagkausap kami ni SAP (Special Assistant to the President) Bong Go at tinanong ko kung tutulungan nila ako at sabi nila tutulungan din nila ako (No, the common people convinced me. Although, I spoke with SAP Bong Go and I asked if they are going to help and he said they will),” Aguilar added.
The filing period for those who would like to participate in the May 13, 2019 elections will be from Oct. 11-12 and Oct. 15-17. (PNA)
