Senator Lito Lapid said on Thursday that he is seeking reelection next year.

“Kailangan kasi ako ng partido e. Kasi ang loyalty natin nasa partido at sa ating mahal na Pangulo. Lalong lalo na ngayon na iniiwanan siya ng mga kasamahan namin e. Hindi ko siya maiiwanan. Kaya andito ako para tulungan siya,” said Lapid.

Lapid went to the Commission on Election (Comelec) main office in Intramuros, Manila to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator.

He decided to run again for senator because he was requested by President Arroyo and his partymates to do so.

“Sabi nila kung puwede tumakbo uli bilang senadlor kasi si Sen. Bong Revilla halos kaming dalawa nalang ang naiwan sa partido. Napag-usapan namin dalawa ni Bong na manatili kami dito sa Lakas-Kampi,” said Lapid.

Earlier, it was reported that Lapid is running for Pampanga governor in the May 2010 elections.

But Lapid said it was the people of Pampanga who have asked him to run.

“Iyong mga ibang kababayan ko yun ang gusto nila na bumalik ako sa Pampanga bilang governor. Pero itutuloy ko nalng itong mga trabaho ko sa senado kung mabibigyan pa ako ng isang pagkakataon ng mga kababayan na ituloy ko ang paglilingkod sa kanila,” he said.

Aside from Lapid, retired police general Romeo Maganto filed his COC for senator on Monday.

Maganto said he decided to run for senator so as to serve the Filipino people.

“Gusto ko makapaglingkod sa ating mamamayan lalong lalo na ngayn na maraming problema. Lalo na ngayon yung nangyayari sa Mindanao mas naging interesado ako lalo na para tumakbo. Palagay ko malaki ang magagawa ko para makatulong sa ating pamahalaan,” he said.

Maganto was referring to Monday’s Maguindanao massacre where at least 36 innocent civilians were killed including media practitioners.

“It seems that nobody could protect them (media). If I’m in the position to take action of that carnage and massacre in Maguindanao I will hold those responsible within 24 hour to answer for their crime,” he said.