MANILA, Philippines (Updated 9:12 a.m.) — Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III was the first to file his certificate of candidacy on Thursday at the Commission on Elections.
Pimentel who is seeking re-election as a senator said he decided to file on the first day so it would no longer be on his mind as his wedding day nears.
"Para po mawala na ito sa isip ko dahil ako'y ikakasal next week," he said.
"Kailangan yung atensyon nasa akin naman na personal na plano."
Pimentel arrived before 8 a.m. and was accompanied by his partner Kathryna Yu.
He said he is seeking re-election as he still has "unfinished [legislative] business." The senator and PDP-Laban party-mate of President Rodrigo Duterte is a known advocate of federalism.
"There is unfinished business to be pursued in the Senate, legislative business," Pimentel told reporters after filing his COC.
Pimentel also urged his party-mates to wear red when they file their candidacies as it would be the PDP-Laban’s campaign color.
“That is the revolutionary color. Ibig sabihin nun it entertains radical ideas on how to solve our problems, out of the box solutions to problems,” he said.
Pimentel said at least six more senatorial candidates of PDP-Laban would file their candidacies. Some of them are not yet final with their decisions.
Sen. Pimentel says he has “unfinished business” in the Senate. He is seeking re-election. @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/sUz7mNsLS9
— Patricia Lourdes Viray (@patriciaviray) October 11, 2018