The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday re-considered 2 more presidential aspirants—environmentalist Nicanor “Nick” Perlas and Kilusan Bagong Lipunan's Vetellano Acosta—bringing to 10 the total number of candidates to the top post.

The poll body also added 4 more to the list of senatorial candidates.

On December 15, Perlas and Acosta were declared disqualified from seeking the presidency because they were supposed to lack resources to wage a nationwide campaign.

Earlier, Perlas called the Comelec’s decision “unfair and favors only moneyed candidates.” In his petition for review, he said that the criteria used by the Comelec only apply to traditional politicians.

The Comelec said that Perlas, in his appeal, was able to present his detailed platform of government, and that his participation in previous leadership fora had proven that he is serious in his intention to run.

'Bright day' for politics

“The decision to reinstitute me is a bright day for Philippine politics. I am really touched by the decision…. There is a strong message that if there is vision, there is platform, we can just put second place the traditional requirements of money and political parties,” Perlas said after the Comelec promulgated the decision.

KBL standardbearer Acosta was earlier disqualified, although the candidacy of his running mate television host Jay Sonza got approved. Acosta then argued that the KBL already has a nationwide campaign network. KBL was formed during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos.

“If the certificates of KBL nominees for vice president and senators were given due course, there is no reason why this Commission should deny due course to Mr. Acosta’s certificate of candidacy,” the Comelec explained.

The Comelec decision brought the number of qualified presidential bets to 10. The 8 whose candidacies were earlier approved are: Benigno Aquino III (Liberal Party), John Carlos de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran Party), former President Joseph Estrada (Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino), Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines), Ma. Ana Consuelo Madrigal (Independent), Gilbert Teodoro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Eduardo Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas), and Manuel Villar (Nacionalista Party).

New Senate bets

Four new names were added to the list of qualified senatorial candidates: detained military general Danilo Lim, former Cebu governor Emilio Mario Osmeña, KBL nominee Nanette Espinos, and Bangon Pilipinas’s Adz Nikabulin.

“Even as we have hurdled this one obstacle, we have yet a long way to go to achieve the problem facing the country…I still do not have many resources to use in this campaign. I am still detained, but I rely on the truth to clear the way. And with God’s mercy and trust of the countrymen, I really don’t need anything else,” Lim said in a text message.

Lim, who indicated in his certificate of candidacy that he will run as independent, turned out to be a guest candidate of the Liberal Party (LP).

When Lim filed his CoC, he said did not have yet the endorsement of LP. Since Lim is already adopted by LP, the Comelec is convinced that he now has the party machinery which would enable him to wage a nationwide campaign. All the commissioners voted to grant his petition, except for Comelec chair Jose Melo who voted to disqualify him.

The Comelec also approved Osmena's candidacy after he was able to establish that his political party, Abag Promdi, managed national campaign in the past. Osmena placed 4th in a 10-way presidential race in 1998. In 1992, he run for vice president under the same political party.

Espinosa and Nikabulin were re-considered after they submitted documents showing that they are nominated by registered political parties.

Not enough
Fifty appeals, including joint opposition from nominees of political parties, were submitted to Comelec before December 21. However, only 6 were approved.

Oppositions filed by perennial candidates and lawyers Oliver Lozano and Elly Pamatong, and former Manila congressman Mario “Mark Jimenez” Crespo were denied.

The Comelec said that Pamatong has “no track record of having successfully waged a campaign of national magnitude.” His achievements, though impressive, is not enough for people to remember him.
Lozano, according to the poll body, has not proved that he can mount a nationwide campaign. He is not nominated by a political party either.

The Comelec said the although Crespo claims to be “financially independent,”  he lacks the political strategy and platform to sustain a nationwide campaign. (Newsbreak)