TWO THOMASIAN lawyers—a former executive secretary-turned-critic of the Marcos administration and an Artlets instructor—were among those who filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for senator in the 2025 elections.
UST alumnus Victor Rodriguez, who served as executive secretary of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in 2022, formalized his senatorial bid last Oct. 8.
Department of Political Science instructor Angelo de Alban declared his intention to seek a Senate seat on Oct. 7.
Both Rodriguez and de Alban obtained their law degrees from UST.
Rodriguez had executive education at the National University of Singapore Negotiation and Influence Program. He has handled posts in various law organizations, including the Quezon City Trial Lawyers League, where he serves as its president.
Rodriguez was also treasurer of the UST Law Alumni Foundation and deputy general counsel of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.
During the 2022 polls, he was very visible as chief of staff and campaign spokesman of Marcos, who appointed him later on as executive secretary. However, he resigned from the Cabinet after less than three months supposedly to spend more time with his family.
Before exiting the Marcos administration, Rodriguez was linked to various issues, including a sugar importation controversy and a supposed extortion scheme that required a person to pay P100 million in exchange for a government post. Rodriguez has denied the allegations and has maintained that his conscience is clear.
The former executive secretary delivered speeches in a number of Maisug rallies organized by groups supportive of the Dutertes and critical of the Marcos administration.
In an interview with the media after his COC filing, Rodriguez said he wanted to lead the “true opposition” in the Senate because he could not accept a “crooked leadership.”
One more try
De Alban is again seeking a Senate seat five years after he tried to run for the same post.
The Political Science instructor was declared a nuisance candidate by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in 2019 due to his alleged lack of financial capability to hold a nationwide campaign.
In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that Comelec had committed a “grave abuse of discretion” in its decision and partially granted de Alban’s petition for a review of his disqualification.
Speaking to reporters after filing his COC, de Alban said he wants to amend some laws to make them responsive to present needs.
De Alban, who has his own law firm, graduated with a Journalism degree in UST. F – T. Tamio
