FORMER vice president Noli de Castro and former senator Antonio Trillanes are looking to return to the halls of the Senate after filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) Friday, October 8, 2021.

De Castro and Trillanes filed their COCs under the banners of Aksyon Demokratiko and Liberal Party, respectively, on the last day of the COC filing period at the Sofitel Harbor Garden Tent in Pasay City.

In an interview after filing his COC, Trillanes said he will be running under the slate of Vice President Leni Robredo.

"I articulated in several interviews that if VP Leni will run for president, I would run for senator," said Trillanes.

"That is the decision of our group, Magdalo," added the former Philippine Navy officer and member of the group of disgruntled soldiers.

Trillanes served as senator from 2007 to 2019, and had an unsuccessful vice presidential run in the 2016 elections.

On the other hand, de Castro said he was looking to return to the Senate after his initial stint from 2001 to 2004 was cut short by his election as vice president.

"When I served as senator, it was only for three years because I became vice president... I want to continue filing more bills and resolutions," he said.

He said he wants to advance his advocacies that are limited by his being a long-time broadcaster with ABS-CBN.

"The things you have been complaining about as a broadcaster, when you legislate, it becomes more useful as a law," said de Castro.

To recall, de Castro was the topnotcher in the 2001 senatorial race after getting over 16.2 million votes.

In the 2004 Philippine election, de Castro ran and won for vice president. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)