In alphabetical ballot, why is Bong Revilla’s name up top? 

There’s a conspiracy theory going around that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is out to give reelectionist Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. an unfair advantage by placing his name among the first several spots on the ballot. The supposed clandestine move ostensibly breaks the rule of arranging candidates’ surnames chronologically. 

So why, the social media chatter goes, does the name of “Revilla” come after “Bondoc” and before “Bosita”? That places him at No. 11, on the first column of the 2025 senatorial ballot. 

Another narrative insinuates that because this operation was uncovered, the poll body might be able to cover it up by shredding P132 million worth of ballots and print a corrected one. 

Kalma muna tayo… 

Bong Revilla’s name is listed among candidates with surnames beginning with the letter “B” because, well, “Bong Revilla” is legally his surname. 

In 2009, before he ran for his first reelection in 2010, the actor-cum-politician born Jose Mari Bautista secured court approval to legally change his name to Ramon Bautista Bong Revilla Jr. As an actor, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. had been his screen name. 

It was a strategic move. The Philippines was going to hold its first automated elections in 2010, so ballots were going to be redesigned with candidates’ names already listed alphabetically, with ovals (circles in succeeding elections) to shade across their names. 

So, yes, the adoption of a surname that starts with “B” was intended to have one’s name listed up top among many. In fact, in the 2010 ballot, Bong Revilla came after “Biazon” and before “Caunan.” In 2019, when he ran for senator again, his name came after “Binay” and before “Caceres.” 

In his reelection bid in 2025 — if only people checked his certificate of candidacy before letting their imagination go wild — his listed last name is Bong Revilla. And under the section “Name to appear on the Official Ballot,” he put “Bong Revilla, Ramon, Jr, (Lakas).”

For those who want to turn their eyes away from these facts and stretch the narrative some more, uunahan ko na kayo: Revilla’s election lawyer in 2009 was George Erwin Garcia.

If that name rings a bell, it’s because he’s now the chairman of the Comelec. If you’d insist that he conspired with some quarters at the time to make him elections chief 13 years later, then hats off to the richness of your imagination. – Rappler.com