Ariel Querubin, medal of valor recipient, bares Senate run

Medal of Valor awardee former Colonel Ariel Querubin announced his Senate candidacy for the 2025 elections on Monday.

Querubin made the announcement at a gathering of former military and police officials at the Club Filipino in San Juan.

“Ako si Ariel Querubin, sundalo, Pilipino. Sa tulong ninyo, maninilbihan tayo sa Senado (I am Ariel Querubin, soldier, Filipino. With your help, we will serve in the Senate),” Querubin said.

Querubin said he had yet to decide which alliance he would join for the campaign.

For Querubin, the issue in the West Philippines Sea could not be solved through military efforts but through diplomacy. 

“Sa pananaw ko, yung problema cannot be solved militarily. Hindi puwede na maresolba nang dahil nagpapakalat na giyera-giyera. Walang may gusto ng giyera. Wala pa ring gaganda na paraan kundi sa diplomasya. Marami ho ilang ginagawa ngayon para maayos ito,” he said.

(In my view, the problem cannot be solved militarily. It can no longer be resolved by promoting war. Nobody likes war. There is still no better way than diplomacy. A lot is being done now to resolve.)

Querubin said the Philippines should still be prepared.

Then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded Querubin the Medal of Valor in 2001. 

He was awarded for his "acts of conspicuous courage, gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty" for fighting Moro rebels. —NB, GMA Integrated News