MANILA, Philippines – Before the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2016 elections, more politicians announced in the media their intent to run for vice president than for the country’s top post.

But as it turned out, only a few of these politicians actually filed their candidacies for vice president. There are more than a hundred people vying for the presidency, while only 19 people filed COCs for vice president with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

And while most of the presidential candidates have “unique” occupations, most of the vice presidential hopefuls are professionals.

Rappler looked at the information indicated in the COCs to extract demographic data about the 2016 vice presidential hopefuls.

1. PROFESSIONAL

Out of the 19 vice presidential aspirants, 6 are incumbent members of Congress:

• Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II
• Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr
• Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero
• Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV
• Senator Alan Peter Cayetano
• Camarines Sur Representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Gerona-Robredo

At least 4 of them – Honasan, Escudero, Trillanes, and Cayetano – have nothing to lose if they fail to win in the elections, as they will remain senators until 2019. Marcos, meanwhile, will end his term as senator in 2016.

As for the rest of the candidates, Rappler made the following observations about their professions:

• 1 bishop – Teodulo Mangalen, who is part of the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka. The party was formerly called “Lapiang Manggagawa.”
• 2 engaged in businesses
• 3 lawyers
• 1 political worker
• 1 certified public accountant
• 1 retired Land Transportation Office employee
• 1 seaman
• 1 who works in security

One candidate indicated that he was the president of “779 Coconut Planters Inc.” Another candidate wrote “businessman/writer” under profession, while another indicated “writer-publisher.” One did not indicate any profession.

2. GENDER

There are only two women among the 19 vice presidential candidates: Robredo and a certain Myrna Mamon.

In an interview with Rappler, Robredo said women’s empowerment is actually part of her agenda. She will push for livelihood skills classes to help women become financially independent. (WATCH: Rappler Talk: Leni Robredo on running for VP)

Robredo was thrust into the political spotlight after the untimely death of her husband, the late interior secretary Jesse Robredo, in 2012. (READ: Leni Robredo: Low-key political wife goes national) Her running mate, Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, succeeded Jesse as interior secretary before resigning from the post to run for president.

3. CIVIL STATUS

Apart from Robredo, there are 3 other widowers among the vice presidential hopefuls.

Three vice presidential bets are single, while 12 candidates are married.

4. RUNNING MATES

Only 10 of these hopefuls have confirmed running mates in the presidential race:

• Roxas and Robredo (Liberal Party)
• Vice President Jejomar Binay and Honasan (United Nationalist Alliance)
• Miriam Defensor-Santiago for the People’s Reform Party and Marcos (independent candidates)
• Senators Grace Poe and Escudero (independent candidates)
• Romel Mendoza and Vicente Camilon Jr (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino)
• Rizalito David and Albert Alba (Ang Kapatiran Party)
• Representative Roy Señeres and Teodulo “Ted” Malangen (Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka)
• Juanita Trocenio and Jesus Paredes (Partido Bagong Maharlika)
• Leo Cadion and Raul Barbasa (Philippine Green Republican Party)
• Apolonia Comia-Soguilon and Diego Palomares (independent candidates)

Cayetano is still hoping for Duterte to be his running mate. Duterte was named by PDP-Laban to replace presidential aspirant Martin Diño. (READ: Duterte ‘placeholder’ Diño withdraws presidential bid)

5. AGE

All but one vice presidential hopeful met the age requirement set by the Constitution.

Article 7, Section 2, of the 1987 Philippine Constitution says that Filipinos at least 40 years old are eligible to run for president and vice president.

Vicente Camilon Jr of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino wrote in his COC that he was only 38 years old, making him the youngest vice presidential bets.

The eldest, meanwhile, is Nid Anima of the Aasenso Sabungero party, who is 75 years old.

One more aspirant for Vice President: Nid Anima of the “Aasenso Sabungero” party list. #PHvote | via @mikebueza pic.twitter.com/8A0WuiqptL

— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) October 13, 2015

Age Range	Number of vice presidential candidates
30s	1
40s	4
50s	6
60s	7
70s	1

6. LOCATION

The vice presidential race is expected to be Luzon-centric, based on the COC information:

• 11 are from Metro Manila
• 1 is from Ilocos Region
• 1 is from CentralLuzon
• 3 are from CALABARZON
• 2 are from Bicol Region

Only one vice presidential aspirant is not from Luzon – Diego Palomares Jr of Lanao del Norte.

Role

As per the 1987 Constitution, the vice president of the country does not have any specific roles assigned to him or her, other than being the successor to the president in case of the latter’s “death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation.”

The vice president can also be given a Cabinet position. Examples are:

• Gloria Arroyo, who served as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the Estrada Cabinet
• Binay, who served as Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers and who chaired the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council under the Aquino Cabinet. (READ: Aquino to Binay: I didn’t make you a ‘spare tire’) – Rappler.com

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• 2016 presidential hopefuls: Mix of males, senior citizens
• Who is running for president, vice president | 2016 elections