The ‘Big 3’ are graduating in mid-2022 after two successive six-year terms in the 24-member Senate.
They are Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto and Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon.
Sotto is seeking the vice presidency in the May 2022 national elections. He is the chairman of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Recto, the economist in the Senate, and Drilon, a former justice secretary, are silent about their political plans, if any.
Boxing icon Senator Emmanuel ‘’Manny’’ D. Pacquiao filed this morning his certificate of candidacy (COC) as presidential candidate under the banner of Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI).
Senator Panfilo M, Lacson is also expected to file his COC soon as presidential candidate of Partido Reporma. His vice presidential candidate is Sotto.
The reelectionists are Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros, Richard J. Gordon and Leila de Lima.
Former Senators Loren Legarda and Chiz Escudero are making a comeback.
Both filed today their certificates of candidacy for the Senate. Legarda is the House Deputy Speaker while Escudero is the current Sorsogon governor.