MANILA – Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee was the first to file his senatorial bid for the 2025 midterm elections.
The lawmaker filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the start of the eight-day filing period at the Manila Hotel Tent City in Manila around 8 a.m. Tuesday.
“Tayo po ay magbibigay ng murang pagkain, trabaho sa mga Pilipino at mawala ang takot at pangamba sa sakit…ito ay karapatan ng bawat Pilipino (We want to ensure affordable food, give jobs to Filipinos and we want to allay their fears of getting sick. This is the right of every Filipino),” he said in an interview after filing his COC.
The senatorial bet also thanked his supporters who carried banners and placards and greeted him upon arrival.
Lee, a multibillionaire businessman who won a House seat in 2022, representing farmers and fisherfolk admitted that he is facing a bigger challenge.
“Malaking hamon ito pero ang aking track record for two years ang magsasabi (This is a big challenge but my track record for two years would speak for me),” he said.
On the other hand, another senatorial aspirant David Chan, a mechanical engineering graduate of Feati University is pushing for rice prices to be sold at PHP30/kg and sustainable energy.
“Ako po ang humihiling ng isang panayam sa ating President para pag-usapan ang 530 pages na aking proposal para sa ikakaunlad ng ekonomiya ng bansa. Ang hiling ko po ay sana mapagbigyan ako (I’m requesting for a dialogue with the President to discuss my 530-page proposal for the development of our economy. I wish that my request would be granted),” he said.
The filing period for individuals seeking to be elected in national and local positions started on Tuesday and will run until Oct. 8.
COCs can be filed in all local Comelec offices nationwide from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PNA)