BALLOONS AND ALL The start of the eight-day period for filing certificates of candidacy for the May 2025 elections became a spectacle in itself, drawing this crowd at the Comelec desk set up at the Manila Hotel. — File photo from GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — With individuals filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) at the last minute on Tuesday (October 8), only two aspirants from the 33 districts across the National Capital Region (NCR) do not have opponents in the race for congressional seats in the 2025 midterm elections.
The two aspirants who are without any opponent are Quezon City 6th District Rep. Maria Victoria Co-Pilar, who is seeking reelection, and Parañaque Mayor Eric Olivarez (Lakas-CMD) who is vying for the seat of the city’s 1st legislative district.
According to data provided by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) – NCR office, here is the complete list of aspirants who have submitted their COCs from October 1 to 8:
Caloocan City
1st District
Rep. Oca Malapitan (incumbent, Nacionalista Party)
Former city mayor Rey Malonzo (Kapisanan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino)
Johram Alama (independent)
Violeta Buela (independent)
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2nd District
Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy (incumbent, Lakas-CMD)
Former Rep. Edgar Erice (Liberal Party)
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3rd District
Rep. Dean Asistio (incumbent, Lakas-CMD)
Edwin Feliciano (independent)
Las Piñas City
Luisito Redoble (Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino)
John Barry Tayam (independent)
Councilor Mark Anthony Santos (independent)
Senator Cynthia Villar (Nacionalista Party)
Makati City
1st District
Angelo Base (independent)
Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo (Makatizens United Party)
Minnie Antonio (independent)
2nd District
Dennis Almario (Makatizens United Party)
Vincent Sese (United Nationalist Alliance)
Manila
1st District
Joseph Elphin Lumbad (Frontliners ang Bida)
Former Rep. Manuel Lopez (Asenso Manileño Movement)
Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. (incumbent, Lakas-CMD)
Edwin Santos (independent)
2nd District
Former Rep. Carlo Vincent Lopez (Nacionalista Party)
Rep. Rolando Valeriano (incumbent, National Unity Party)
3rd District
Johanna Maureen Nieto (Aksyon Demokratiko)
Ramon Morales (PDP-Laban)
Rep. Joel Chua (Lakas-CMD)
4th District
Giselle Mary Maceda (Asenso Manileño Movement)
Joel Tagle Villanueva (Aksyon Demokratiko)
Louisito Chua (independent)
Former Rep. Trisha Bonoan-David (independent)
5th District
Rep. Irwin Tieng (incumbent, Asenso Manileño Movement/ Lakas-CMD)
Former Rep. Amado Bagatsing (Aksyon Demokratiko)
6th District
Luis Uy (Aksyon Demokratiko)
Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. (National Unity Party)
Marikina City
1st District
Mayor Marcelino Teodoro (National Unity Party)
Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (Nacionalista Party)
2nd District
Jose Jaime Enage (independent)
Former Rep. Romero Quimbo (Lakas-CMD)
Donn Carlo Favis (National Unity Party)
Mauro Arce (independent)
Muntinlupa City
Rep. Jaime Fresnedi (incumbent, Liberal Party)
Silverio Garing (PDP-Laban)
Navotas City
Rep. Tobias Tiangco (Partido Navoteño)
Anthony Ibañez (independent)
Paranãque City
1st District
Mayor Eric Olivarez (Lakas-CMD)
2nd District
Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan (independent)
Rolando Aguilar (independent)
Florentino Baguio (independent)
Rep. Gustavo Tambunting (incumbent, National Unity Party)
Rodel Espinola (Labor Party)
Pasay City
Noel Bayona (Aksyon Demokratiko)
Rep. Antonino Calixto (Lakas-CMD)
Pasig City
Rep. Roman Romulo (incumbent, Nationalist People’s Coalition)
Christian Sia (independent)
Quezon City
1st District
Rep. Juan Carlos Atayde (incumbent, Nacionalista Party)
Former Rep. Vincent Crisologo (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas)
2nd District
Virgilio Garcia (independent)
Francisco Palma (independent)
Roel Bernido (independent)
Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo (incumbent, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas)
3rd District
Rep. Franz Pumaren (incumbent, National Unity Party)
Former Rep. Allan Reyes (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas
4th District
Rep. Marvin Rillo (incumbent, Lakas-CMD)
Former Rep. Jesus Manuel Suntay (United Nationalist Alliance)
5th District
Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas (incumbent, Lakas-CMD)
Rose Nono Lin (Reform-PH People’s Party)
Roselie Frayna (independent)
Angel Rustia Jr. (independent)
Rose Marie de Guzman (Labor Party)
Fidela Mallari (independent)
6th District
Rep. Maria Victoria Co-Pilar (incumbent, National Unity Party)
San Juan City
Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora (incumbent, Lakas-CMD)
Former Councilor Jannah Ejercito (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino)
Taguig City
1st District
Allan Cerafica (Partido Federal ng Pilipinas)
Former Mayor Lino Cayetano (Nationalist People’s Coalition)
Pedro dela Cruz (independent)
Ricardo Cruz Jr. (Nacionalista Party)
Ricardo Opoc (independent)
2nd District
Jorge Daniel Bocobo (Nacionalista Party)
Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora (incumbent, Lakas-CMD)
Noe Manila (independent)
Valenzuela City
1st District
Kenneth Gatchalian (Nationalist People’s Coalition)
Evelyn Hernandez (independent)
Antonio Espiritu (Aksyon Demokratiko)
2nd District
Gerald Cloyd Galang (independent)
Katherine Martinez (National Unity Party)
If successful, these political aspirants are entitled to a three-year term as House of Representatives members, where they are expected to craft laws that will benefit their constituents and the whole country as well.
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But aside from law-making, House members are also given different other roles like scrutinizing the proposed national budget, conducting inquiries in aid of legislation, checking on the appointments made by the president, and even declaring a state of war through a two-thirds vote of all members.