NOYNOY, MAR FILE COCs
[PHOTO
AT LEFT - Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III
and his running mate Sen. Manuel Roxas II flash the Laban sign after filing
their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections office in Manila
yesterday. JONJON VICENCIO | MANILA, Philippines]
MANILA, NOVEMBER 29, 2009 (STAR) By Christina Mendez and Sheila Crisostomo – Amid a sea of yellow, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the front-runner in the race to succeed President Arroyo, and his running mate Sen. Manuel Roxas II, filed their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday, pledging to fight corruption.
The 51-year-old Aquino, son of the late democracy icon and former president Corazon Aquino, said he wants to effect a “transformational change” after nine years of rule by Arroyo, an estranged former political ally of his family.
Aquino vowed to provide transformational leadership from a president who tolerates corruption to a president who is the nation’s first and most determined fighter of corruption.
“We have lost trust in the democratic institutions we so courageously re-established after the dictatorship. Our proven capacity for collective outrage and righteous resistance has been weakened,” Aquino said.
“We have ceased to depend on the patriotism and civic engagement that used to animate many of our efforts. We have become divided and alienated, focusing only on ourselves and on our individual pursuits. Our moral faculties as a people have been paralyzed,” Aquino said.
He said he and his party mates at the Liberal party have totally lost faith in the leadership of the Arroyo government.
“Its legitimacy is under question. It persecutes those who expose the truth about its legitimacy and corruption,” the Liberal Party alleged in a paid advertisement in national newspapers yesterday.
Aquino vowed to build his government according to the tenets his parents, the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and President Aquino, upheld in their lifetime – integrity, humility and trust-worthiness in public leadership.
The withdrawn, bespectacled Aquino surged from nowhere to the top of the opinion polls after his mother died in early August from a long battle with cancer.
An October national survey by Pulse Asia found Aquino with 44 percent support, with multi-millionaire developer Senator Manny Villar at 19 per cent and President Arroyo’s preferred successor and former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro at just two per cent.
Roxas, for his part, said he would fight for reforms and good governance.
“This fight is not about Noynoy or the Liberal Party. This fight is about our collective thirst for change. This is about the new Philippines that we all dream about,” said Roxas, Liberal Party president.
Roxas too has been the frontrunner in vice presidential surveys conducted by reputable polling firms Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.
‘Cory’s gift of light’
Aquino, who faced detractors for using the legacy of his parents as stepping stone in becoming the next president, recognized the contributions of his parents in establishing democracy.
“Then finally, the gift of Light Cory Aquino passed on to the next life. From our sadness, we awakened to a shaft of light cutting through the darkness. She left the Filipinos a legacy of selfless love for country and people,” Aquino noted.
“Filipinos’ connection with each other was rekindled. In death, she enabled us to hope again for decent government. The millions who connected with Cory at her funeral represented something more than euphoria, sentiment or transient emotions. They represented the reverent memory of a good leader in the past and the firm hope of having a similarly good leader in the future,” Aquino added.
Under his platform of government, Aquino vowed change from relegating education to just one of many concerns to making education the central strategy for investing in the Filipino people, reducing poverty and building national competitiveness.
From treating health as just another area for political patronage, Aquino vowed to recognize the advancement and protection of public health, which includes responsible parenthood, as key measures of good governance.
Reacting to the Maguindanao massacre, Aquino said he would push for the dismantling of private armies in the country.
“For a private army to be maintained, it has to be allowed (by the government). In the law, private army is illegal. It’s very simple – just implement the law,” he added.
Aquino also admitted that he used to advocate for the restoration of the death penalty, and debated with his mother who believed otherwise.
But when he was already in Congress, he realized that there are some loopholes in the justice system. Many of those accused do not have the capability to defend themselves in court.
Festive atmosphere
More than a thousand supporters, like Aquino, were clad in yellow and held a festive rally outside the Comelec office in Intramuros.
The filing followed a 9 a.m. Mass at the Manila Cathedral and a short program held at a makeshift stage set up by the LP near the Comelec building.
Shalani Soledad, Aquino’s girlfriend, and the senator’s sisters Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and actress and TV host Kris, accompanied Noynoy to the Comelec.
Roxas, on the other hand, was accompanied by wife Korina, son Paolo and mother Judy Araneta Roxas.
Roxas and Aquino were also accompanied by former Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Ralph Recto, Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano “Ruffy” Biazon, Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto “TG” Guingona, former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus “Neric” Acost and guest candidates Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Sonia Roco of Aksyon Demokratiko, who also filed their COCs and will run for the Senate.
Detained Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim had filed his COC on Friday as an “adopted” candidate of the Liberal Party.
Aquino had refused to say if LP could deploy a complete slate of 12 senatorial bets for the 2010 polls. He, however, claimed that one seat is reserved for former Sen. Serge Osmeña III who lodged his COC for senator last week.
“There are last minute negotiations... Can I answer (if we can field a complete slate) after two days?” he said.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim was also present at the Mass, as were showbiz personalities from television network giants GMA-7 and ABS-CBN.
As of press time Aquino is the 45th presidential aspirant to file his COC, while Roxas is the 4th vice-presidential hopeful. The number of those aspiring for Senate seats had reached 51.
A total of 47 individuals have already manifested intention to run for president.
The filing of COC runs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. - With Sandy Araneta, Evelyn Macairan
MIRIAM FILES COC FOR SENATOR; WILL NOT
ENDORSE ANY PRESIDENTIAL BET
By Sheila Crisostomo - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who is seeking reelection,
yesterday filed her certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Santiago, guest candidate of five political parties, told Comelec reporters that she would not be endorsing any presidential bet in the 2010 polls.
“I can’t because I’m a candidate of all. I’m going to tell the people, you decide who your president will be. I’m simply saying that whoever the president might be, I’m willing to serve very humbly,” she said.
In her COC, Santiago listed her party as the People’s Reform Party, but she claimed to be a guest candidate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Nacionalista Party, Partido ng Masang Pilipino, Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
She added that these parties offered her a slot and she accepted as her “way of sending my message that I’m willing to serve, that I no longer wish to be president myself, but whoever the people will choose to become president will have my support and service.”
During the campaign, the senator intends to join each of these parties “with available itinerary during the period.”
Detained Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim of the Magdalo group, who is also running for senator, also filed his COC yesterday.
“I’m no longer in the military service effective this date of filing. I have served the military for more than 36 years and throughout my service, I have been consistent in advocating reforms,” he said.
Lim said Congress is his “alternative arena” to pursue the “same advocacies, same struggle for nationalism, reforms and good governance.”
Lim is among several Magdalo soldiers seeking elective positions in the 2010 local and national polls.
Earlier, former Navy officer James Layug filed his COC to run as congressman of the second district of Taguig City; former Marine Capt. Gary Alejano is running for mayor of Sipalay, Negros Occidental and former Army Capt. Dante Langkit, for mayor of Kalinga.
Former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, who led a Marine standoff in 2006, has also been reported to be seeking a Senate seat.
Former Sen. Serge Osmeña III is taking another shot at the Senate as he filed yesterday his COC with the Comelec.
Osmeña said that although he is shying away from political parties, he supports the presidential bid of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III.
“I’m for Noynoy,” he told Comelec reporters. Osmeña had bolted the LP when former Sen. Ralph Recto joined the party.
Osmeña noted that while LP is promising “new politics,” its style of recruiting traditional politicians to increase membership is “old politics.”
Meantime, the Nacionalista Party (NP) firmed up its senatorial slate yesterday with the inclusion of overseas Filipino workers advocate Susan Ople, youngest daughter of the late senator and foreign secretary Blas Ople.
NP standard-bearer Manny Villar lauded the work of Ople in fighting for the rights and welfare of distressed OFWs.
Villar said that he has long heard of Ople helping OFWs, and that overseas employment started during the time of her father. With this, Villar said that the NP will help Ople become the voice of OFWs and other workers in the Senate. – With Christina Mendez
Pamatong strikes again, files COC for president By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) Updated November 28, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - “Spike boy” Elly Pamatong will again make an attempt at the presidency.
In an interview after filing yesterday his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Pamatong said he is more qualified to run for president in the 2010 polls than any other aspirant.
Pamatong had tried to join the presidential derby in 2004 but was disqualified by the Comelec for being a nuisance candidate.
“I was tortured by the Comelec. They called me a nuisance candidate,” he noted with indignation.
Pamatong added that he has done more for the Philippines than former President Joseph Estrada.
“Gibo and Noynoy can never outdo me when it comes to contributions for the country,” he claimed, referring to former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Sen. Benigno Aquino III, standard-bearers of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and Liberal Party, respectively.
He urged the poll body to give him a chance to seek an elective post since he is eligible to do so.
“I scored 92 percent in the American Bar exam but I was disqualified. I’m a graduate of the University of the Philippines and Silliman University and I’m an undefeated debater in UP and yet I was declared a nuisance. What kind of Comelec is this?” he said.
In 2004, Pamatong was nabbed by the police for masterminding the scattering of steel spikes in various parts of Metro Manila, damaging the tires of more than 150 vehicles. This earned him the moniker “spike boy.”
Aside from Pamatong, 10 other hopefuls formalized yesterday their quest for the presidency by filing their COCs.
This brought to 43 the number of presidential aspirants, mostly unknown, in the 2010 polls.
One of them is 54-year-old Norberto Mercado who identified himself as a bishop and whose running mate is Sen. Mar Roxas, the vice-presidential bet of the Liberal Party.
In his prepared platform of government, Mercado said that he intends to “increase the Filipino family’s income and savings” by eliminating the expanded value-added tax and the withholding tax if he wins the presidency.
He added that he would appoint God-fearing tax collectors “for more efficient and effective tax collection.”
“It (Mercado administration) will provide incentives and rewards to honest tax collectors. It will prosecute dishonest tax collectors to the fullest extent of the law,” his platform stated.
As of yesterday, three vice-presidential aspirants and 37 senatorial hopefuls have filed their COCs with the Comelec.
The filing of COCs started last Nov. 20 and will end on Dec. 1.
Erap formalizes comeback bid
Meanwhile, former President Joseph Estrada, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and the entire United Opposition (UNO) senatorial slate will file their respective COCs before noon on Monday, Bonifacio Day, at the Comelec.
Estrada media staff Ferdie Ramos said UNO will gather first at the Liwasang Bonifacio to celebrate Bonifacio Day with a Mass at 9 a.m.
Ramos said a short program will follow where Estrada will unveil the platform of UNO while Binay will speak on good governance.
People’s Movement Against Poverty head Ronald Lumbao will read PMAP’s manifesto against poverty. – With Jose Rodel Clapano