Gringo Honasan files COC for Senate comeback bid in Eleksyon 2025

Former Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan II on Monday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for his Senate comeback bid in next year's midterm elections.

Should he win, Honasan, an independent candidate, vowed to continue pushing for economic and land reforms, as well as in national security. 

LIST: Senatorial aspirants for Eleksyon 2025

“We’ve been fighting for economic reforms, land reform, electoral reforms, social reforms, even reforms in our spiritual lives. That’ the reason why I have decided to ask for another madate from the Filipino people,” Honasan told reporters. 

Honasan ran for senator in the 2022 elections under the tandem of former Senators Panfilo Lacson and Vicente Sotto III but failed to secure a Senate seat. Both Lacson and Sotto are likewise joining the senatorial race in 2025. 

Asked if he is still with the Macho bloc in the Senate, Honasan said:  “You cannot disband the Macho bloc… The Macho bloc, if it can be harnessed to address the highest public and national interest, it will continue to function whoever the members are.”

The bloc is composed of Lacson, Sotto and Senator Lito Lapid, who is seeking reelection in 2025. 

“We continue to remain the Macho bloc — platform and program-based — we’re not involved in personality conflicts… We’re trying to induce, ask, educate the Filipino people to make more informed, rational, intelligent choices, examining the platforms and programs that will impact on the real situation infornt of us which is food, clothing, shelter, education, health, and access to data. The new goal…that’s the context of how the Macho bloc came into be,” Honasan said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News