Comelec officer appeals to aspirants to ‘think twice before filing’

Unknown—and unusual—aspirants made up the majority of those who flocked to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) central office on Friday, the first day for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for national positions.

The 14 presidential and 3 senatorial aspirants who registered with the poll body today said they are seeking those positions to get rid of corruption in government.

Most of these aspirants said they would run as independents. The lack of political experience and support from major parties are proof that they are sincere in their anti-corruption advocacy, they said.

Leading the pack of early filers was Rigoberto Madera Jr., 61, a teacher-preacher from Bohol, who filed his candidacy at 8:40 a.m. Madera describes himself as a “six-star general” and listed “NNN” or “Najananan” as his official nickname.

“God wants me to file first,” Madera told reporters before filing his COC. He added that he topped a “survey by God conducted in October.”

This is not the first time Madera is doing this. In 2004, he was also among those who submitted his COC for president on the first day of filing.

RP’s doom?
Carmelo Carreon, a 63-year-old insurance agent from Iloilo, came to the Comelec wearing a red bandanna and a sash bearing his name. He said his motto is, “Pinoy is clean, united and all of the above.”

Noel Aguirre, a 46-year-old entrepreneur, was wearing a T-shirt bearing the URL of his website. His family was with him.

Businessman Vicente Fabella, 46, declared that if he’s dismissed as a nuisance candidate, “Magugunaw ang Pilipinas (It will the end of the Philippines).”

Some personalities who submitted their COCs are old timers.

Senatorial aspirant Victoriano Inte, a 55-year-old lawyer, ran for a congressional seat in Bohol. He even ran against Madera, the teacher-preacher. They finished last in that congressional race.

Wendell Lope ran as mayor of Cebu City in 2007, but he was disqualification due to his residency in Manila.

Lozano, again
Lawyer Oliver Lozano, a known Marcos loyalist, also filed his COC and announced his intention to run for president.

“I am running for president, unless Rep. Bongbong Marcos will run for president. I am running for president against the presidential bid of those who have much less done nothing to solve the economic crisis, the root of poverty, hunger, and rebellion,” Lozano said in a statement released to the media.

“I am running as independent-KBL pending a KBL convention. For campaign fund, I expect to be paid shortly more or less P5 billion as attorney’s fee,” he added.

KBL is Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, the party established by the late President Ferdinand Marcos. Bongbong is the nickname of Ferdinand Marcos II, the president’s son.

Lozano had become known as the lawyer who always tried to preempt impeachment proceedings against President Arroyo by beating to the draw opposition groups that were preparing the substantial complaints. His complaints were always dismissed.

In 2007, Lozano ran for senator under the KBL. He claimed he was banking on the votes of 10 million Marcos loyalists, but he garnered only around 304,000 votes. When Marcos's son and namesake disowned Lozano and said he was using the party in vain, Lozano said: "I risked my life and limb in defense of President Marcos during martial law, until his death and beyond. Not a thousand Bongbong Marcos can disown me."

Other presidential aspirants who filed their COCs were: quantum physics instructor Gilbert A. Garcia (independent), masseuse Josefina Murillo, retired teacher Peter Pelegrino, financial consultant Vetallano Acosta, barangay chair Daniel Magtira, retired teacher Ernesto Balite, businessman and retired government employee Edmund Fernandez, and Sultan Min Bilad A. Villaflor, who identified himself as an “estigramist.”

Aside from Inte, other senatorial aspirants are medical service employee Micomi-I La Lawquero and businessman Eduardo Sion.

More hopefuls
Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said that more established hopefuls are expected to file their COCs as the deadline nears. The Comelec will accept COCs until midnight of December 1.

"Usually the major political parties file at the last day or during the last few days of the filing," Larrazabal said.

He also urged aspirants to limit the number of supporters they will bring when they file their COCs. He said that media interviews with the hopefuls should be done before the filing to avoid charges of premature campaigning.

In 2007, the less known or minor candidates were also the ones who flocked on the first day of filing. At the time Lozano, Melchor Chavez, Rommel Pinera, Daniel Magtira, and Theodore Aquino were the early birds. Pinera, Magtira, and Aquino were disqualified; Lozano lost in the elections.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that the final list of candidates will be released by the end of December. Those considered nuisance will be called to a hearing. “They will be given the opportunity to bolster their claim of eligibility.”

Comelec will be particular with nuisance candidates who will be “making a mockery of the election process. Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento defines nuisance candidates as those who will bear the same name of other candidates “as to create confusion among voting public,” and those with no machineries and capacity to stage a campaign.

Given the number of aspirants registering, Sarmiento appealed to those planning to go to Comelec to please “think twice before filing.” (Newsbreak)