MANILA, Philippines – Actor-politician Senator Lito Lapid is seeking reelection as he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Wednesday, October 2.
Lapid, part of the administration’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas 2025 Senate slate, has served three terms in the upper house: his first six-year term was from 2004 to 2010 and was reelected in 2010.
In 2015, after nearly 12 years in the chamber, Lapid admitted that he felt out of place in the Senate. “Hindi naman ako bagay dito. Tsamba-tsamba lang sa Panginoon at sa tulong ng aking mga kababayan (I am not suited here. It was pure luck, thanks to the Lord, and the help of our compatriots),” he said.
He ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Angeles City in Pampanga in 2016.
In 2019, Lapid, riding on the popularity of ABS-CBN’s long running TV series “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” where he was a mainstay, he placed 7th in the senatorial race, with 16,965,464 votes.
“Siguro sa experience ko ay puwede na akong manungkulan ulit. At ulit, sana bigyan ako ng pagkakataon,” Lapid told the media after filing his COC at the Manila Hotel.
(Maybe with my experience, I am qualified to serve again. Once again, I hope the people will give me the opportunity.)
The senator was linked to an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) after an unnamed vlogger claimed that Lapid allegedly owned the 10-hectare land where the scam hub in Porac, Pampanga, is located. Lapid denied any involvement in POGO operations and said he would resign if proven otherwise.
In the 14th Congress, Lapid was the main author of the Free Legal Assistance Act, which ensures that the poor have access to quality legal services at no cost. The law was co-authored and defended by then-senator Chiz Escudero, who is now Senate president.
To encourage more lawyers and law firms to provide free services to low-income clients, the law offers tax credits.
However, some of Lapid’s bills have raised eyebrows. In 2010, for instance, he proposed a measure to protect children from the adverse effects of carrying heavy school bags.
Lapid faced a graft case due to alleged purchase of overpriced fertilizers in 2014, but the Sandiganbayan dismissed it in 2016. – Rappler.com
