Pacquiao, Isko, Tito Sotto lead celebrities gunning for nat’l and local posts in 2022

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

Actors, actresses and other celebrities are invading the political scene again.

Since October 1, the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy for various national and local positions available for the May 9, 2022 elections, several actors and celebrities have filed their CoCS for government posts.

Leading the celebrities are Sen. Emmanuel Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, who is popularly known by his actor’s name Isko Domagoso who are both running for president.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto, an actor, composer and singer, leads the celebrities for the vice presidency.

Those who filed their CoCs for senator are broadcast journalist and Rep. Loren Legarda, former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, actor Robin Padilla, broadcaster Raffy Tulfo and former Makati vice mayor Manuel Monsour del Rosario.

For congressman, those who have filed their CoCs are Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez who is replacing his wife, Rep. Lucy Torres, in Leyte; Richard Yap who is running in Cebu City; Arjo Atayde in Quezon City and Anjo Yllana in Camarines Sur.

Cavite Vice Governor Jolo Revilla will run for congressman in the first district of the province.

Meanwhile, celebrity chef Boy Logro wants to represent kusineros in Congress through a party-list group while beauty queen and actress Marissa del Mar through the OFW party-list.

In the local scene, Manila Rep. Francis Nieto, more popularly known by his actor’s name Yul Servo, will run for vice mayor with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna; Lou Veloso for councilor of Manila, Jhong Hilario for councilor in Makati; broadcast journalist and Rep. Sol Aragones for governor of Laguna with actor Jerico Ejercito for vice governor.

Former Laguna governor E R Ejercito filed his CoC for mayor of Calamba City.

In San Juan City, Mayor Francis Zamora’s council slate includes basketball players James Yap, Ervic Vijandre, Paul Artaid, and Don Allado.

Other candidates for local posts are Jason Abalos for provincial board member of the 2nd District of Nueva Ecija, Ejay Falcon for vice governor of Oriental Mindoro, Javi Benitez running for mayor in Victorias City, Negros; Angelu de Leon for councilor of Pasig City; Aiko Melendez for councilor of Quezon City and Ali Forbes, singer and beauty queen, for councilor of Quezon City.

Actor Richard Yap is running again for Congress, representing the 1st District of Cebu City. In 2019, Yap also ran for a congressional seat under PDP-Laban but lost to Raul del Mar.

Also running for local posts are Claudine Barretto for councilor in Olongapo City, Angelu de Leon for councilor in the 2nd district of Pasig City; Bobby Andrews for councilor in the 4th district of Quezon City; and Nash Aguas for councilor in Cavite City.

Former basketball player and actor Alvin Patrimonio, meanwhile, is running for mayor of Cainta, Rizal while Arci Muñoz is running for councilor of Cainta; Alma Moreno, councilor in Parañaque City; Comedian Teri Onor or Dexter Dominguez in real life for vice mayor of Abucay, Bataan

Meanwhile, according to Romualdez, Muñoz and Patrimonio are considered “assets” of the Lakas-CMD party.