Ex-Defense chief Gonzales, ex-Rep. Sahidulla seek Senate seat in Eleksyon 2025

Former Defense Secretary  Norberto Gonzales and former Sulu Representative Lady Ann Sahidulla on Monday filed their respective certificates of candidacy (COCs) for senator in the 2025 midterm elections.

If elected, Gonzales said he intends to "revisit" current laws on national security and look into the issues surrounding the West Philippine Sea.

“Madami na tayong batas diyan (national security), tingnan muna natin. Siguro i-revisit natin yung National Defense Act. Tingnan muna natin ng mabuti, at yung Anti-Terrorism (Act), tingnan din natin yung mga 'yan,” Gonzales said.

(We have a lot of measures on national security. Let us look at them first. Maybe revisit the National Defense Act. Let us examine it thoroughly. And the Anti-Terrorsim Act. Let us examine them.)

Gonzales is running for under the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas. He served as national adviser and was later appointed as defense chief during the Arroyo administration.

Gonzales also ran as president during the 2022 elections but was unsuccessful .

Meanwhile, Sahidulla said she wants Sulu province to remain part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“Gusto ko remain talaga kasi maganda pa rin talaga na kasama ang Bangsamoro. Hindi naming alam, paglabas na lang, na separated na pala ang Sulu,” Sahidulla said, referring to the Supreme Court decision excluding Sulu from BARMM.

LIST: Senatorial aspirants for Eleksyon 2025

(We want to remain part of Bangsamoro. We did not know. When it came out, it said Sulu is already separated from BARMM.)

She said if she secures a seat in the Senate, she will work on Sulu's inclusion in BARMM.

BARMM's leadership earlier said they would appeal the SC's decision.

Meanwhile, other individuals that filed their COCs for senator on Monday morning included:

• Lawyer Jesus Hinlo Jr.
• Physician Richard Mata
• Pedro Gonzales Ordiales
• Roberto Ballon
• Nelson Ancajas

—KBK, GMA Integrated News