GIBO, EDU TO FORMALIZE 2010
BID TODAY / EDBANE OPTS NOT TO RUN
MANILA,
DECEMBER 1, 2009 (STAR) By
Jaime Laude - Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer former defense chief Gilbert
Teodoro and running mate former Optical Media Board (OMB) chair and television
personality Edu Manzano are filing their certificates of candidacy today, the
last filing day, at the head office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in
Intramuros.
Some of the ruling party’s senatorial candidates are filing their COCs with Teodoro and Manzano.
Before filing, the Lakas tandem will first attend an early morning Mass at the Manila Cathedral with their families and supporters.
Teodoro’s partymates and supporters around the country are also offering masses for a “peaceful and honest election” next year.
Some 2,000 supporters and relatives will link arms with Teodoro and Manzano in a short march from the Manila Cathedral to the Comelec office at 7:45 a.m.
Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, one of Teodoro’s staunch supporters, said they are looking for non-traditional ways of widening Teodoro’s voter base.
She said the administration candidate has a strong appeal especially among new voters who are looking for strong leadership and intelligence.
“We are looking at a non-traditional way of reaching voters through the Internet,” Magsaysay said.
On Saturday, Teodoro virtually wooed Cordillera folk by paying homage to their language and culture.
Teodoro was a guest speaker at the WOW Philippines Cordilleras’ Best 2009, a tourism festival held at the Melvin Jones Grandstand in Baguio City.
Teodoro was given ceremonial honors by native Cordillera leaders as an “adopted son of the Cordilleras.”
Speaking in Iluko, the native language of most Northern Luzon provinces, Teodoro pushed for improved tourism in the Cordillera region by making it more accessible to the rest of the country. – With Artemio Dumlao
LACK OF FUNDS: LABOR PARTY BET EDBANE BACKS OUT
FROM PRESIDENTIAL RUN
[PHOTO
AT LEFT - Clockwise from top left: A tearful former DPWH secretary Hermogenes
Ebdane announces that he will no longer run for president; Lakas-Kampi-CMD
standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro is given a traditional Cordillera cape and
headdress during the closing ceremony of the WOW Cordillera in Burnham Park in
Baguio City; and Gina de Venecia files her COC for representative of the fourth
district of Pangasinan at the Comelec office in Dagupan City.
Jonjon Vicencio, Cesar Ramirez, Andy Zapata Jr.
|MANILA, Philippines]
MANILA, DECEMBER 1, 2009 (STAR) Former public works secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. backed out of the presidential race yesterday, citing the lack of funds to run his campaign.
“After much reflection, I have decided to formally end my presidential bid today. I have come to this decision to spare my friends, supporters and my family from the agony and burden of joining a fight which we cannot win,” a teary-eyed Ebdane said at a press briefing at the University of the Philippines’ Bahay ng Alumni.
Ebdane, a former defense and police chief, made the announcement the day he was supposed to announce his running mate and file his certificate of candidacy.
His announcement surprised members and supporters of the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka or Workers and Peasants Party, the political party backing his presidential bid.
“My survival training dictates that I assess the situation, take stock of my options and make a decision. Given the sudden changes and swift developments that have altered my own political options, my training tells me that this is the right time for the public servant to bow out,” Ebdane said.
“I have realized that I cannot wage a decent presidential campaign without sufficient funds. Ugly as it may sound, lack of funds can unmake a viable presidential run,” he said.
Ebdane thanked his supporters “who have expressed willingness to go on with the fight despite meager resources.”
“And I thank you for your unwavering support and fidelity to our cause. But as a retired general, I cannot allow anyone to become a sacrificial lamb in a battle where the certainty of victory has become nil,” he said.
Ebdane, who was always at the tail-end of popularity surveys, complained that donors have failed to fulfill their promises to bankroll his national campaign.
He said he has no plans of running for any elective posts aside from the presidency and stressed that he would focus on strengthening the party and expand its membership and service all over the country.
The former national police chief also did not say whom he would support in next year’s presidential election.
“It has been a privilege to have served you and our country for the last 43 years. Finally, I can take a vacation and finally spend Christmas with my family,” the 60-year old native of Zambales said.
Lakas lures Ebdane
Because of this development, Malacañang expressed hopes that Ebdane would support the administration’s candidates in the 2010 elections being a former Cabinet member.
Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio said it was possible that Ebdane would be tapped as a senatorial candidate of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
“We’re hoping that he (Ebdane) would continue to be with us since he shares the same perspectives and visions of the administration precisely because he was a member of the Arroyo Cabinet,” Claudio said in a telephone interview.
“We’re hoping that he could also join the administration’s senatorial slate,” he said.
Claudio also expressed optimism that former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando would remain with the ruling party amid reports that he was set to join the Nacionalista Party (NP) of Sen. Manuel Villar.
“We value him in the administration and we hope he will stay with us,” he said, adding that the ruling party was not bothered by reports that reelectionist Sen. Bong Revilla was a “guest candidate” of the NP.
He said the Lakas-Kampi-CMD is very much confident with the senator’s loyalty as well as his support for the administration standard-bearer, former defense chief Gilbert Teodoro.
Perlas files COC
Meanwhile, the 10th day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) closed yesterday with presidential aspirants now totaling 51, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
One of the presidential hopefuls who filed his COC yesterday was environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, 59, who is running as an independent in the 2010 polls.
Perlas said he searched for a running mate but found no one who shares the same vision of leadership and track record.
“Let us inaugurate a new politics that will dramatically reduce and even eradicate poverty, remove corruption, improve the quality of life for all, dismantle warlords and private armies, establish peace, regenerate environment, provide quality education, harness the creativity of the Filipino people, energize the emergence of broad-based equitable economic development, and mobilize all citizens of goodwill to help create a sustainable nation capable of taking its appropriate role in worlds affairs,” he said.
Perlas is a recipient of the Manuel L. Quezon Award for Exemplary Governance in 2003, Alternative Nobel Peace Prize for Livelihood in 2003, the Outstanding Filipino Award in 1994 and made it to the Honor Roll of the United Nations Environmental Program Global in 1994.
Among the presidential aspirants that have already lodged their COCs were Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party and John Carlo de los Reyes of the lay group Ang Kapatiran.
A dentist from Oriental Mindoro and a government pensioner also filed their respective COCs for president yesterday.
Agustin Bolor, 50, traveled all the way from his residence in Calapan City to lodge his COC as independent presidential hopeful, while Jesus Alcazar Jr. of Galas, Quezon City filed his at around 10:30 a.m.
Today, Sen. Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party and former President Joseph Estrada of Partido ng Masang Pilipino are expected to formalize their quest for the presidency.
A total of four individuals are seeking the vice presidency while 66 others are gunning for seats at the Senate. – Delon Porcalla, Dennis Carcamo, Paolo Romero