MANILA, Philippines – In every election since retired general and former defense secretary Fidel Ramos won the presidency in 1992, former soldiers and policemen have run for public office.

Some of them have won national seats. Among them is ex-national police chief Senator Panfilo Lacson, who is running for president for the second time in 2022, and retired colonel Gregorio Honasan II, who is running again for the Senate in May.

In the 2022 Philippine elections, a total of 43 ex-cops and retired soldiers are either seeking national and local posts or are being nominated by party-list organizations:

• 1 for president
• 3 for senator
• 10 running under party lists
• 2 for governor
• 24 for mayor
• 3 for vice mayor

All of them are alumni of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).

Highest number from Duterte’s party

At least 10 ex-soldiers and cops are seeking reelection, while three are unopposed.

The ex-soldier running for mayor of Bangui, Ilocos Norte, is the brother of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu. Of the three PMA graduates running for the Senate, one is a newbie in politics, retired Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar, while two are attempting a comeback.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s party, PDP-Laban, has the highest number of ex-military and police officers running, with seven.

PDP is followed by Nacionalista Party, with five, and Lacson’s party, Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma, with four.

Only former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV is the retired military officer running under the once-ruling Liberal Party. Honasan is running as independent.

At least six party-list groups are represented by ex-soldiers and former policemen.

Below is the complete list of former uniformed men seeking national and local posts in 2022:  

For president

• Panfilo Lacson
  PMA Matatag Class of 1971
  Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma (PDR)

For senator

• Guillermo Eleazar
  PMA Hinirang Class of 1987
  PDR
  
  
• Gregorio Honasan II
  PMA Matatag Class of 1971
  Independent
  
  
• Antonio Trillanes IV
  PMA Marilag Class of 1995
  Liberal Party

For party list

• 4P’s
  Elpidio Gabriel Jr.
  PMA Sinagtala Class of 1986

• Abante Pilipinas
  Mao Aplasca
  PMA Hinirang Class of 1987

• Ako Bisdak
  Ernesto Enriquez
  PMA Maharlika Class of 1984

• Kamalayan
  Raymundo Ferrer
  PMA Masikap Class of 1977
  
  
• Magdalo
  Manuel Cabochan
  PMA Marilag Class of 1995
  
  Eugene Gonzales
  PMA Marilag Class of 1995
  
  Ian Luis Badecao
  PMA Banyuhay Class of 2002
  
  
• PRAI
  Reynaldo Velasco
  PMA Matatag Class of 1971
  
  Van Luspo
  PMA Makabayan Class of 1975
  
  Getulio Napeñas Jr.
  PMA Sandigan Class of 1982

For governor

• Kalinga
  Conrado Dieza Jr.
  PMA Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992
  Partido Federal ng Pilipinas

• Zambales
  Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. (Reelectionist)
  PMA Magiting Class of 1970
  Sulong Zambales Party (SZP)

For mayor

Cordillera Administrative Region

• Baguio City
  Benjamin Magalong (Reelectionist)
  PMA Sandigan Class of 1982
  Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC)

Ilocos Region

• Bangui, Ilocos Norte
  Fidel Cimatu Jr. (Reelectionist)
  PMA Masikap Class of 1977
  Nacionalista Party (NP)

• Anda, Pangasinan
  Gilbert Sosa
  PMA Maharlika Class of 1984
  Reform PH People’s Party

• Lingayen, Pangasinan
  Leopoldo Bataoil (Reelectionist)
  PMA Magilas Class of 1976
  National Unity Party (NUP)

• Mangaldan, Pangasinan
  Arturo Lomibao
  PMA Masigasig Class of 1972
  People’s Reform Party

• San Fabian, Pangasinan
  Juvenal Azurin
  PMA Sanghaya Class of 2000
  Aksyon Demokratiko

• San Quintin, Pangasinan
  Nerio Ignacio
  PMA Makatarungan Class of 1978
  Kilusang Bagong Lipunan

Cagayan Valley

• Calayan, Cagayan
  Joseph Llopis (Reelectionist; unopposed)
  PMA Tanglaw-Diwa Class of 1992
  NP

• Lal-lo, Cagayan
  James Jacob
  PMA Maharlika Class of 1984
  NP

• Rizal, Cagayan
  Ralph Mamauag
  PMA Bigkis-Lahi Class of 1990
  NP

• Sanchez-Mira, Cagayan
  Abraham Bagasin
  PMA Matikas Class of 1983
  PDP-Laban

• Sta. Teresita, Cagayan
  Rodrigo De Gracia (Reelectionist; unopposed)
  PMA Sandigan Class of 1982
  NP

• Tuguegarao City
  Jefferson Soriano (Reelectionist)
  PMA Magilas Class of 1976
  NPC

Central Luzon

• Bongabon, Nueva Ecija
  Ricardo Padilla
  PMA Masikap Class of 1977
  Unang Sigaw

• San Antonio, Nueva Ecija
  Agripino Javier
  PMA Sandiwa Class of 1985
  PDP-Laban

• San Marcelino, Zambales
  Elmer Soria (Unopposed)
  PMA Sandigan Class of 1982
  SZP

Calabarzon

• Rodriguez, Rizal
  Ronnie Evangelista
  PMA Sinagtala Class of 1986
  PDP-Laban

Bicol

• Paracale, Camarines Norte
  Efren Yebra
  PMA Mapitagan Class of 1980
  PDR

• San Fernando, Camarines Sur
  Fermin Mabulo (Reelectionist)
  PMA Marilag Class of 1995
  PDP-Laban

• Magarao, Camarines Sur
  Ariel Bernardo
  PMA Mapitagan Class of 1980
  PDP-Laban

Western Visayas

• Sara, Iloilo
  Jon Aying (Reelectionist)
  PMA Maharlika Class of 1984
  PDP-Laban

Eastern Visayas

• Albuera, Leyte
  Louie Dagoy
  PMA Hinirang Class of 1987
  Lakas-CMD

• Tabontabon, Leyte
  Honorio Agnila
  PMA Sambisig Class of 1991
  PDR

Davao Region

• Hagonoy, Davao del Sur
  Conrado Laza
  PMA Makatarungan Class of 1978
  Hugpong ng Pagbabago

For vice mayor

Central Luzon

• San Manuel, Tarlac
  Benjamin Tesoro (Reelectionist)
  PMA Makabayan Class of 1975
  NPC

Calabarzon

• Rodriguez, Rizal
  Jun Caparas
  PMA Hinirang Class of 1987
  PDP-Laban

• Silang, Cavite
  Edward Carranza
  PMA Sinagtala Class of 1986
  NUP

– Rappler.com