One last sign is what Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III needs in finalizing his decision to enter the already tight senatorial race.

At the labor department’s flag-raising ceremony, Bello recounted two signs that say he should not run: one, his earlier statement that he would if Sara Duterte runs for president (she did not), and second, his friends advising him not to after checking the political landscape.

The labor chief has been teased as “Senator Bello” by the President in 2019 and 2021 ahead of the elections. For now, he said he is not running.

But the President’s will is the last thing he is banking on if he would file today. “Anything may happen between now and up to 4 o’clock.”

Former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar also arrives to file his substitution papers. He will run for senator under the Lacson-Sotto tandem. #PHVote #WeDecide | via @newsdwight pic.twitter.com/usmpsxNchf

— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) November 15, 2021

Senatorial aspirant Paolo Capino arrives to file his withdrawal papers. He will be substituted by former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar. #PHVote #WeDecide | via @newsdwight pic.twitter.com/HR7pY9NoO8

— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) November 15, 2021

Another thing we’ll all be looking out for: If President Rodrigo Duterte will be pushing through with supposed plans to run for vice president.

This would add a side story to the 2022 elections: Duterte vs (Sara) Duterte in the vice presidential race. 

The older Duterte claimed on Sunday, November 14, that Sara’s candidacy was the plan of presidential aspirant and erstwhile Duterte ally Bongbong Marcos Jr. Sara, in turn, seemed to distance herself from political drama in Manila and said that the PDP-Laban – a party which Duterte chairs – drama is all their own. 

We can only wonder how long and aplenty the meetings – across all political camps – were on Sunday. What were the results of these meetings? We should find out by 5 pm today. 

Labor chief Silvestre Bello III says he will heed advice of his friends, who told him not to run for senator. But he also tells his supporters to wait until end of the day.

"The president may call me, and may ask me to join him. Kapag nag-file siya, baka pilitin akong mag-file." pic.twitter.com/YB5Gjkzh5J

— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) November 15, 2021

Malacañang spokesperson Harry Roque will be filing his candidacy for the Senate on the last day of substitution via withdrawal.

According to an advisory to Palace reporters, after his scheduled 12 pm briefing on Monday, November 15, the Palace spokesman will be meeting with his supporters before heading to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office.

He is purported to be filing under the People’s Reform Party (PRP), a party founded by the late Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Based on the latest Comelec data, PRP has two candidates for senator – former defense chief Gibo Teodoro and a certain Paolo Mario Martelino.

Late last week, Roque placed last among Asia-Pacific nominees in the election of new members of the United Nations International Law Commission, failing his bid for a seat in the prestigious UN body.

Following the chaos that ensued on Saturday during Senator Bong Go’s filing of substitution papers, there’s now an increased presence of Comelec marshals here at Palacio Del Gobernador. pic.twitter.com/XNE8tyrYyQ

— Dwight De Leon (@newsdwight) November 15, 2021