Seventeen senatorial bets filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) at the start of the filing period for the May 2025 midterm polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday.

Leading the list is re-electionist Senator Francis Tolentino of the Partido Federal ng Filipinas, along with AGRI party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee of Aksyon Demokratiko, Jose Montemayor of Partido Federal ng Maharlika, and Najar Salih of Partido Maharlika.

Independent senatorial bets who filed their COCs are David Chan, Alexander Encarnacion, Janice Padilla, Jose Olivar, Felipe Montealto, Joseph Dy, Daniel Magtira, Happy Lubarbio, Norman Marquez, Phil Delos Reyes, Marc Gamboa, Miguelino Caturan, and Sunang Ditanongun.

Meanwhile, 15 party-list groups have filed their Certificate of Nomination – Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination (CON-CAN).

For party-list groups, those who submitted their CON-CAN on the first day of the filing period were: Ang Bumbero ng Pilipinas, Kabayan, Manila Teachers, Ako OFW, Lingap, Akay ni Sol, Agao, Buhay, Bayan Muna, Coop Natcco, Kamangagawa, Magsasaka, ACT-CIS, Senior Citizens, and Diwa.

The filing of candidacy for senatorial bets and party-list groups was held at The Manila Hotel Tent City in Manila.

In a press briefing, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said no untoward incidents were recorded on the first day of the filing period.

“So far, our nationwide monitoring showed there were no disturbances during the filing of Certificate of Candidacy. Our first day was a success. Outside the venue, the filers have many companions but they were able to observe order during the filing,” the poll body chief added.

The COC filing period runs until Oct. 8. (PNA)