AMONG the 66 senatorial candidates vying for a seat in the 2025 midterm elections, four earned their degrees from UST — each bringing platforms focused on justice reform, anti-corruption, and inclusive public service.
Who are these four Thomasian candidates hoping to make it to the Magic 12?
Angelo de Alban
Now on his second attempt to secure a Senate seat, lawyer and UST political science instructor Angelo de Alban is pushing for legislative measures aimed at resolving social issues — chief among them boosting judicial funding to speed up legal proceedings and combat corruption.
De Alban, a former Varsitarian special reports coordinator, completed his journalism, law, and master of laws degrees at UST. He currently runs his own law office while continuing to teach at the Faculty of Arts and Letters and the Faculty of Engineering.
Running as an independent, De Alban strongly supports amending the Family Code to legally recognize same-sex couples and to raise the standards for marriage in the country. He argues couples should first undergo financial literacy training, sex education, and psychological testing.
A co-founder and vice president of St. Philomena School in Marilao, Bulacan — which serves children with special needs — De Alban also seeks to improve benefits for persons with disabilities and children with developmental challenges.
In 2019, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared him a nuisance candidate for allegedly lacking the financial capacity to sustain a national campaign. The Supreme Court later overturned the disqualification in a landmark decision.
Arnel Escobal
Retired police general and lawyer Arnel Escobal served 30 years in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Escobal earned his military science degree from the Philippine Military Academy in 1987 and completed his law degree at UST-Legazpi, formerly Aquinas University of Legazpi.
His campaign centers on fighting corruption, crime, and promoting transparent governance. He supports government-subsidized education, expanded universal healthcare, and legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals against violence.
In 1990, Escobal was involved in a shooting incident during a surveillance operation that resulted in the death of an individual, who, according to records, was under observation for suspected drug trafficking but was not found to be armed or engaging in any criminal activity at the time. Escobal and another officer were charged with murder following the incident.
Escobal resumed his law enforcement career and later headed the PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management.
He is running under the banner of Partido Maharlika.
Jesus ‘Jayvee’ Villanueva Hinlo Jr.
A native of Bacolod City, lawyer Jesus “Jayvee” Villanueva Hinlo Jr. earned his political science degree from UST in 1992 and completed his law degree at the University of Negros Occidental–Recoletos in 1999.
Hinlo was part of the “Marco Polo 15,” a group of PDP–Laban officials who launched then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential campaign. He is running under the same party.
During the Duterte administration, he served as undersecretary for public safety at the Department of the Interior and Local Government, a board member of Land Bank, and a commissioner at the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.
Central to Hinlo’s platform is eradicating corruption by amending the Data Privacy Act and the Bank Secrecy Law to give the Office of the Ombudsman access to public officials’ financial records without a court order.
He also advocates for educational reforms that emphasize Filipino patriotism and ethics from elementary through college.
Victor ‘Vic’ Rodriguez
Lawyer Victor “Vic” Rodriguez, a graduate of the UST Faculty of Civil Law, was a spokesperson for Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. prior to his election and served as his executive secretary during the first three months of his presidency.
Rodriguez has publicly cited corruption as the main reason for leaving the Marcos government. He has opposed the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity and expressed continued support for Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, especially during scrutiny over her use of confidential funds.
If elected, Rodriguez vowed to amend the Plunder Law by lowering the threshold from P50 million to P5 million and to reimpose the death penalty for corrupt officials.
He has voiced opposition to divorce, citing the Constitution and existing laws such as annulment. He also criticized the P12-billion education budget cut for 2025, warning it would harm financially struggling students.
Rodriguez has also denounced the country’s pro-U.S. tilt in foreign policy, saying it endangers Filipinos in China and undermines Philippine neutrality.
Though running as an independent, he has been included in PDP–Laban’s senatorial slate.
