Bam Aquino files COC, braces for 'tougher race' in 2019

Seeing a "tougher" race in 2019, Senator Bam Aquino on Tuesday filed his certificate of candidacy for his re-election bid.

"The race is tougher this time because I am not a part of the administration," said Aquino, cousin of former President Benigno Aquino III.

"But that is public service. Mahirap ang laban. Di ka naman puwedeng lumaban dahil madali lang," he added.

"Pero kahit mahirap ang laban, if you want to serve to push for what would benefit our people, that should drive you forward."

Aquino said his track record in his first Senate term speaks well of his words on delivering social services to the people since he is one of the authors of the Free College Education law and voted no on the Duterte administration's tax reform law that hiked taxes on fuel and sugar sweetened beverages.

Aquino finished seventh in the 2013 polls with over 15 million votes, even if he was not in pre-election surveys in October 2012.  —KBK, GMA News