Mga kababayan, the 2022 elections are approaching! The election date is set for May 9 next year. However, today marks the end of the presidential filing, and hoo boy — we’ve got a lot of people eyeing the position of president.
However, some of the people on this list are not as well-known as those who have been in politics. This list will be updated with more information. But, for the most part, one can’t deny the allure of becoming the foremost authority in the country. So a lot of people are here to make a bid for president. Here are the people vying for the most powerful position in the country.
2022 Philippine election’s presidential candidates
Evelia Abarrondo
Not much is known about her at this time, except that she’s an independent candidate.
Ernesto Abella
Abella is an Independent candidate who is a former SunStar Davao columnist and an agri-businessman. Abella has a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-medicine from the Ateneo de Davao University. Additionally, he graduated from Silliman University with a Master’s Degree in Divinity. Also, Abella went to the Asian Institute of Management and earned a Master’s in Social development.
Ernesto Abella is best known for being an ex-Presidential Spokesperson for President Duterte. After serving as Presidential Spokesperson from 2016 to 2017, he became the Undersecretary for Strategic Communications and Research of the Department of Foreign Affairs. He resigned from the latter post on October 8 to file for candidacy.
Interestingly enough, Abella founded the religious organization Jesus Fellowship, Inc.
Loreto “Mr. Loy” Agcaoile
Loreto Agcaoile is an Independent candidate. Also, he’s self-employed and vows to end corruption as President. But, unfortunately, not much else is known about him at this time.
Dave Aguila
Dave Aguila was, unfortunately, not available for a media interview on his filing date. Thus it is not entirely clear whether he is, in fact, Dave Aguila, the Founder of the Association of Low Carb and Intermittent Fasting (LCIF) or not. However, he is an Independent candidate.
Juan Aguilar Jr.
Not much is known about him, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Delia Aniñon
Delia Aniñon is an OFW who aims to create more jobs by inviting investors. These jobs will help out Filipinos whose livelihoods were affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Ma. Antonia Aquino
Not much is known about her at this time, except that she’s an independent candidate.
Salic Arap
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Ramon Asuelo
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s an Independent candidate. Additionally, according to Rappler, he’s a farmer.
Reysal Bahian
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s running independently.
Rodulfo Basadre Jr.
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Grepor Belgica
Belgica is running with the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan. Also, he’s Greco Belgica’s father. Not much else is known about him at this time.
Bonifacio Bravo
Not much is known about him at this point, except that he’s running independently.
Rolly Casino
Unfortunately, not much is known about this Independent candidate at this time. However, he did file a COC for Senator in 2015.
Diosdada Dacillo
Not much is known about her at this time, except that she’s an independent candidate.
Ricardo Domingo
Not much else is known at this time, except that he’s running independently.
Melchor “Kidlat” Duno
Not much is known about him at this point except that he’s running independently.
Joseph Dy
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Alexander Encarnacion
Encarnacion is an electrician and an Independent candidate. Additionally, according to CNN, Encarnacion proposed “Laserco,” a solution he pitched to the PDEA. Laserco will “catch crime and corruption in real-time.” However, not much else is known about Encarnacion at this time.
Antero Fabito
Not much is known about him at this point, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Anthony Fajardo
Unfortunately, not much is known about him at this point, except that he’s associated with the HOPE party.
Ephraim Defiño
Defiño, an Independent candidate, urged Filipinos to vote for new candidates during the elections, which will stop corruption.
“They are running again in the government, engaging in corrupt activities, and getting rich. We need a new leader, my countrymen. Let us pity our children — the next generation.”
He additionally stated that he will become the “best leader of this country.”
“I will increase the salary of teachers to P50,000 per month. If we increase the salary of PNP and the military, why can’t the teachers? They are the heroes of our time. […] The COVID frontliners, I will give you a salary of P30,000 a month. Free one sack of rice and [transportation] service and housing program for the frontliners.”
Leo Cadion
Cadion is with the Philippine Green Republican Party. Unfortunately, not much else is known about him at this time.
Hilario Andes
Not much is known about him, except that he’s running independently.
Arnel “Nel” David
David is an Independent candidate as well, though not much else is known about him at this time.
Percival Kevin de Guzman
Not much is known about him, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Orlando de Guzman
De Guzman is running with the Pederal ng Maharlika. However, not much else is known about him at this time.
Diane de Leon
Not much is known about her at this time. However, she is an Independent candidate.
Rodel de Vera
Rodel de Vera stated in his media interview that he’s running for President because many Filipinos lost their jobs due to the pandemic. Unfortunately, not much else is known about him at this time, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
Dela Rosa has been a senator since 2019. Before that, he served as a police officer. More specifically, Dela Rosa was the Chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018. Then he served as the Director-General of the Bureau of Corrections for a few months in 2018. Dela Rosa studied Public Administration at Mindanao State University. But he later left for the Philippine Military Academy. Dela Rosa would later earn a Master’s in Public Administration. Also, the policeman-turned-senator has a Ph.D. in Development Administration from Davao’s University of Southeastern Philippines.
The senator also has several police courses under his belt and attended courses in the United States and Australia.
Bato dela Rosa is running with the PDP-Laban party, but some speculate that he’s a substitute candidate and that Sara Duterte will replace him. Humorously enough, Dela Rosa only realized he was a presidential bet two hours before the deadline.
Leodigario “Leody” de Guzman
De Guzman is known as a labor leader. Also, he’s running for president under his party, Partido Lakas ng Masa. De Guzman was a former garments worker. He’s the current chairman of labor group Bukluran ng Mangggawang Pilipino.
Leody de Guzman previously ran for Senator in 2019 but didn’t achieve the position. In his media interview, he called himself “Ka Leody, a laborer.” He runs for the presidential position as the “changing administrations” of “the elite” have done little for the country’s laborers. De Guzman further cites that he intends to end contractualization and low wages.
Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso
Domagoso, better known as Isko Moreno, is the current Mayor of Manila since 2019. Moreno adopted his moniker from his days as a former actor. Moreno went to the University of the City of Manila and studied public administration there. In addition, he studied Local Legislation and Local Finance at the University of the Philippines. Also, Moreno took courses at Harvard University, specifically the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford.
Moreno started as a councillor, then became a Vice Mayor in 2007, 2010, and 2013. Moreno was also the Chairman of North Luzon Railways Corporation. He was also the Undersecretary for Luzon Affairs, which is under the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Corina Joyce Felix
Another religious person, Felix stated that “only justice will bring peace.”
Leonardo Fernandez
He is running with the Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago party. Not much else is known about him at this time.
Rudy Flores
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Edencio Fronda
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Norberto Gonzales
Norberto Gonzales is a former Secretary of National Defense. He held the post twice, once in 2007, and later had another, more extended stint from 2009 to 2010. Gonzales has a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine from Ateneo de Davao University. Additionally, he got his Master’s in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines in 2006.
In Gonzales’ interview speech, he expressed his plans for his national campaign:
“Well, I’m not really a known politician, nor do I have a lot of money. But the PDSP has been with our citizens for more than 50 years. I’ve served a lot of presidents, and we’ve been to different places in the Philippines. […]
“We have always been saying, as a party, that what is wrecking our future, and the reason for the ugly way that our government is being run is the ugly way politics is being used here.
“We aim to change the prevailing politicking in our country. In my experience of almost a decade of government service, I saw the importance of politics and the kind of politicians running the country.
“I observe that many individuals will come with me and say, ‘I think, it’s time to change the rotten politics in our nation.’”
He runs under the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas banner.
Sonny Boy Andrade
Andrade is an Independent candidate.
“You may not know me by face, but I will be with you for the change in the Philippines. Let’s unite,” he said in his interview. “Let’s fight for and implement the Constitution… and respect those in position, especially our laws.”
Unfortunately, not much else is known about him at this point.
Victoriano Inte
Previously a barangay staff member from Pasay City, Inte is 67 and willing to take on the presidential race. He criticized Duterte’s violent campaign against drugs, as follows:
“Many people were killed. Killing there, killing here. We have lost so many lives due to killing. If he’s really sincere to stop, demolish the laboratories. Stop the production of chemicals in our country in order to seed the new generation.
“Give life instead of killing. Life is important. The most important in this world is life.”
Inte stated that he would welcome any criticism under his administration. In addition, upon his election, Inte promises that life will return to normal for Filipinos. Businesses will reopen; however, the citizens have to be vaccinated and wear face masks and face shields.
This isn’t the first time Inte filed a Certificate of Candidacy. However, his last attempts in 2016 and 2019 aimed to become a senator. He was then declared a nuisance candidate.
Alejo Katigbak
Not much is known about him, except that he’s running independently.
Kamadhenu Gaa
Not much is known about her, except that she’s an independent candidate. Her representative filed the COC in her stead.
Winston Kayanan
Kayanan is associated with Ipatupad for Workers, but not much else is known about him at this time.
Panfilo “Ping” Lacson
Senator Lacson is a former Director-General of the Philippine National Police. He is making another bid for the presidency, with his last attempt being in 2004. Lacson earned his degree in Engineering from the Lyceum of the Philippines University. Afterwards, he enrolled at the Philippine Military Academy.
At the start of his political career, Lacson started as an intelligence officer and climbed the ranks. In addition, he has a Masters in Government Management from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
Lacson is notably one of two senators who never used his Priority Development Assistance Fund, instead preferring to return it to the National Treasury. Lacson was appointed Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda. He was also instrumental in rehabilitating devastated areas and helping the typhoon victims get back on their feet.
Senator Lacson was the sponsor and co-author of 2020’s Anti-Terrorism Act. Though it gives the Philippine government more power against terrorists and terrorist threats, some have found the law defines terrorism quite vaguely.
Gabriela Larot
Not much else is known about her at this point, unfortunately. She is an Independent candidate.
Danilo Lihaylihay
Not much is known about him, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Edgardo Los Baños
Unfortunately, not much is known about him except that he’s running independently.
Happy Lubarbio
According to ABS-CBN’s Facebook, Lubarbio is “a biometrics & bio company owner.” However, not much else is known about her at this time. Also, she’s running independently.
Ramon Raco Diaz
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s running Independently.
Arsenio Antiporda Jr.
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s with the Partido Maharlika.
Arsenio Dimaya
Not much is known about him at this point, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Marsden Luyahan
Luyahan is running independently as well, but not much else is known about him at this time.
Erazo Lucio
Unfortunately, not much is known about this Independent candidate.
Faisal Mangondato
He’s running with the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi. In a DZMM TeleRadyo Truth or Charot interview, he has stated that he desires “better job opportunities for people outside of Metro Manila.” Additionally, Mangondato wants to end extrajudicial killings. Not much else is known about him at this time.
Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos
Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the infamous Ferdinand Marcos, is one of the more familiar names in politics. He went to Oxford, specifically, St Edmund Hall, to read Politics, Philosophy, and Economics but did not obtain a bachelor’s degree. Instead, Marcos received a Special Diploma in Social Studies. He later would go to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania for his Masters degree. However, he did not get his Masters in Business Administration.
He withdrew from the program for his election as Vice Governor. Thus, Marcos became Vice Governor of Ilocos Norte during martial law and later became Governor. From 2010 to 2016, Bongbong Marcos served as a senator. He tried to make a bid for the presidency in 2016, but things didn’t work out.
Maria Aurora “Maria” Marcos
Another candidate with the infamous Marcos surname, Maria Aurora Marcos wishes to enact positive change in the Philippines:
“I have no political machinery unlike popular politicians, but I am determined and honest about my goal to help make the change that all Filipinos wish for come true.
“I may not have enough exposure to government leadership, but I have enough knowledge and ambition on how to improve lives and restore the country where it should be in the community of nations.”
Her platform aims to secure health insurance as well as “free hospitalization.” She also aims for the country to have hospitals in areas that need them. Speaking of facilities, she also wishes to improve the caliber of transportation facilities, such as trains and airports. In addition, Maria Marcos wanted to eradicate corruption, as well as drugs and illegal gambling.
She also desires to increase jobs and wages for Filipinos. The aspiring president cited the regime of the late Ferdinand Marcos as a sort of golden age, considering that the economy was only second to Japan at the time. However, that was not the case, as the Philippines’ GDP from 1984 to 1985 was in the negatives.
Tiburcio Marcos
Another Marcos eyeing the position of President, Tiburcio Marcos is running for president independently. Not much else is known about him at this time.
Tiburcio Marcos
Another Marcos eyeing the position of President, Tiburcio Marcos is running for president independently. Not much else is known about him at this time.
Dante Martirez
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s in the Fem Com party.
Nancy Megio
Unfortunately, not much is known about this Independent candidate at this time.
Domingo Mejia
Domingo Mejia is a religious man who seeks to align the laws to the Ten Commandments. However, not much else is known about this Independent candidate.
Dr. Jose Montemayor
Jose Montemayor is an unfamiliar name for those who are in the know concerning politics. He donned a doctor’s coat for his media interview, a visual cue for his profession as a cardiologist. Also, Dr. Montemayor is an attorney. He vowed to “eliminate corruption, criminality, and COVID.” He continued in his interview:
“Our country is facing a very serious crisis, especially the pandemic. One who is running for president must have ample knowledge on what is this virus is, and what are the effects of this virus, especially not only on the health condition of our country but also on the economic side. I am also an economist, aside from being a doctor and a lawyer.
“Another thing is that our people are desperately looking for a leader. One who is knowledgeable, honest, and with integrity and also one they will have confidence in. […]
“I am of the Democratic Party of the Philippines. We have also millions of caring members of the Democratic Party of the Philippines. We will conduct this campaign at the grassroots level, as well as all the professional organizations and the Born-again Christians, which account for 35 million.”
Josephine Murillo
Unfortunately, not much is known about this Independent candidate.
Felix Natnat
Unfortunately, not much is known about him at this point. However, he is an Independent candidate.
Robert Navarro
Unfortunately, not much is known about this Maharlika People’s Party candidate at this time.
Eric Negapatan
Not much is known about this candidate at this time, except that he’s running independently.
Edgar Niez
Niez is a self-employed religious man. So Niez stated in his interview that God instructed him to run for President. However, the presidential hopeful intends to do good if he is elected:
“I will enforce laws justly and equally, eradicate poverty, create businesses and jobs that respect rights and balance of nature— and foster citizenry whose members live in Godly lives as we develop as a nation doing God’s work for all humanity.”
Niez is also an Independent candidate.
Valeriano Nocon III
Not much is known about Nocon at this time, except that he is a vlogger. Nocon is also running as an Independent candidate.
Vladimir Ocampos
Not much is known about him at this time, unfortunately. But, he is an Independent candidate.
Leysander “Ley” Ordenes
Leysander Ordenes is also an unknown in this Presidential race. However, he stated that he was a former commander of the Naval Special Operations Group of the Philippine Navy.
However, he didn’t state his platform for his presidency. However, in 2003, he said that he was an Overseas Filipino Worker who taught marine science in California, Florida, and the Caribbean. He continued about his accomplishments further:
“In year 2004, when there was SARS-CoV1, I was one of the pandemic mitigators, the only Filipino health [expert] in East Africa, especially the countries of Rwanda, Uganda. […] So that’s what I did there. Now, I came back to help our country recover faster from this pandemic. God bless our elections. God bless our people.”
In support of his supposed marine science credentials, Ordenes displayed a graphics material for a “pandemic warfare mitigator.”
Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao
Pacquiao is a boxing star turned politician. Now retired from the world of pro boxing, Pacquiao set his sights on the presidency. Notably, he was the very first presidential hopeful to submit his COC. Pacquiao is running alongside Lito Atienza. In addition, the senator is associated with the Probinsiya Muna Development Initiative or PROMDI.
Pacquiao originally announced that he would run for president on September 19. Additionally, he stated he intended to fight corruption. Also, he plans to lower electricity rates and improve the country’s internet speed, the latter of which is famously slow. Finally, owing to his generous nature, Pacquiao wishes to uplift Filipinos economically:
“First of all, the pandemic that has yet to be solved should be addressed so that our economy bounces back. This would mean that more people will be able to get their jobs back.”
Maria Mercedes Pesigan
Not much is known about her at this time. However, she is an Independent candidate.
Ferdinand Jose Pijao
Unfortunately, not much is known about this Independent candidate at this time. However, in 2015 he filed candidacy for president in preparation for the 2016 elections, and his COC then stated that he was 100 years old.
Deogracias Porio
Unfortunately, not much is known about this Independent candidate at this time.
Dolores Quirao
Not much is known about her at this time, except that she’s a farmer running independently.
Luzviminda Raval
Not much is known about her at this time, except that she’s an independent candidate.
Gerald Arcega
He is an Independent candidate. Also, Arcega is a graduate of San Beda University. Arcega earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from that institution. In addition, he served as a consultant for the Sulong Katutubo International Foundation Incorporated in 2019.
Alfredo Respuesto
Not much is known about him at this time, except that he’s an Independent candidate.
Benjamin Rivera
A famous nuisance candidate, Benjamin Rivera is a refrigerator technician. In addition, he stated in 2018 that he is a high school graduate. He maintains great enthusiasm regardless. Rivera has been filing for either President or mayor of Manila ever since 1988. Over the years, Rivera has not gotten very far. He gets disqualified every time he files for candidacy. This year, he is also an Independent candidate.
Danilo “Danny” Roble
In his media interview, Roble, an independent candidate, stressed “the importance of love and not harming other people” in his media interview. However, not much else is known about him at this time.
Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo
Vice President Leni Robredo is one of the most recent people to file for the presidency. Robredo also studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman and earned a degree in economics. Later on, she got a degree in law at the University of Nueva Caceres. In addition, she was once a representative of Camarines Sur’s 3rd district.
She served as a coordinator for the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligan, and also became the chairwoman of the Liberal Party in Camarines Sur. During the pandemic in 2020, she provided free shuttle services for medical staff and emergency workers in Luzon. In addition, her office provided personal protective equipment as well as food.
Leni Robredo was initially known as the late Jesse Robredo’s wife. Now she’s taken up the fight against Marcos, namely Bongbong Marcos. In the 2016 elections that gave us President Duterte, Robredo was able to win against Marcos by a slight margin. As a result, she blocked him from winning a position beside the President. She intends to face off against Bongbong Marcos in the upcoming elections.
Jeffrey Roden
An office worker, Roden expressed frustration with the response to the pandemic. So, he intends to set up more hospitals. He filed for candidacy because he couldn’t agree with the path the country is currently on. Unfortunately, not much else is known about this Independent candidate at this time.
Cesar Roca
He is an Independent candidate. However, not much is known about him at this time.
Edmundo Rubi
Another Independent candidate, Rabi claims that the Philippines was doing economically well during Marcos’ time. Though his claims may not be entirely accurate, Rabi, rather refreshingly, will provide “free electricity, housing, and retirement income” to all, as well as a monthly stipend of ₱5,000.
Sahiron Salim
Salim is an Independent candidate. Once a retired police general, Salim is the first Muslim to serve as the head of Camp Crame’s Salaam Police Center Camp. Also, at one point, Salim served as a provincial police director in Bataan. He believes the country needs a leader willing and strong enough to eradicate corruption and illegal drugs.
Roosevelt Sta. Maria
Not much is known about this Independent candidate at this time.
Cornelio Seño
Unfortunately, not much is known about this Independent candidate at this time.
Carlos Serapio
Not much is known about him, except that he’s running as an Independent candidate.
Apolonia Soguilon
Soguilon once ran for president in 2016 as a substitute. However, disputes with the party of her predecessor and his family made it hard for her to run. As a result, COMELEC declared her a nuisance candidate, but she is running with the Maharlika People’s Party.
Pedrito Tagle
Unfortunately, not much is known about him at this time. However, Tagle is running as an Independent candidate. In addition, he filed a COC for President in 2015.
Nestor Talion
Unfortunately, not much is known about this Independent candidate at this time.
Jimmy “James” Torres
Jimmy Torres is in the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party. Also, he wants to uplift Filipinos from poverty and continue the Build, Build, Build initiative. But, unfortunately, not much else is known about him at this point.
Juanita Trocenio
A civil engineer, Juanita Trocenio is a religious woman. So religious that she sang “Here I Am Lord” during her media interview. Additionally, her filing sparked controversy over presidential qualifications. Not much else is known about her at this time, but she’s running independently.
Antonio “Butch” Valdes
Valdes is with the Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino. Unfortunately, not much else is known about him at this time.
Renato Jose Valera
Valera is also new to the world of politics. He stated as much in his media interview. Valera also added that he’s a loving husband and father of 13 kids.
“I am running for president because I want to be the father of the nation. As a father, I only want the best for my children. I will take care of the Filipinos just as how I raised my children. […]
“I came from ordinary people. I will never turn my back on them.”
In addition, Valera stated he will start a plebiscite in 2025 to “bring back the government to the people.”
Anna Capella Velasco
Velasco is running under Lakas-CMD. She is actually a placeholder candidate, as the party doesn’t have a standard-bearer at the moment. However, not much is known about Velasco herself at this time.
Danilo Villanueva
Danilo, famously known as “Ang Crush ng Bayan,” is also eyeing the presidential seat. However, not much else is known about the 50-year-old, except that he’s running independently.
Melodino “Dino” Villanueva
Not much is known about him, except that he’s running as an Independent candidate.
Laurencio “Jun” Yulaga
Yulaga is a relatively new candidate whose solution to the Coronavirus pandemic is, well, subjecting yourself to 12,000 volts. However, it should be noted that electrocution is not an approved cure for the virus. Additionally, the presidential hopeful’s statement is interesting, considering Yulaga claims to be a Harvard graduate.
He also stated that he would use nanotechnology to solve the problems plaguing the country. Yulaga is with the Philippine Green Republican Party.
– Alex/WhatALife.ph
Also Read: ‘It is a circus’: Philippine election season kicks off
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