MANILA- The first official contender for the vice presidential post in the 2010 polls promised to solve the long-standing peace problem in Mindanao.
 
Alicman Ali, a Maranao and businessman from Quiapo, filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the 2010 polls at 2:10 p.m. on Sunday. He is running as an independent candidate.
 
“Ang advantage naman ng pagiging Maranao ko ay kaya kong pahintuin ang mga tao doon (Being Maranao, my advantage is I can stop the people there [from fighting],” Ali told reporters.
 
Ali claimed that he is a son of former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao vice governor and former Lanao del Sur governor Mahid Mutilan.
 
“I am running as [an] independent [candidate]. Mas madali ang independent para walang makapigil sa akin (It is easier to run as independent so nobody can stop me),” he added.
 
Ali said he was born in General Santos City and holds a business administration degree from the Mindanao State University. One of his plans is to visit and talk to Brunei’s leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, about the country’s political concern.  
 
He claimed that is 40 years old, the minimum age requirement for the vice presidential post. However, his accomplished COC showed that he was born on March 31, 1971. In other words, he’ll be 39 years old when elections are held in May next year.
 
Ali also dismissed that he is a nuisance candidate. “Hindi naman ako nanggugulo. Alam naman ng spirit na ang panalo ko ay para sa kabutihan ng bansa (I am not a bother. The Spirit knows my triumph is for the country),” he said.
 
Noli kin?
 
Two more potential candidates visited the Comelec on Sunday to inquire about requirements.
 
In the afternoon, a certain Jose Isabelo "Sonny" Leuterio said he will vie for the presidency.  Comelec officials and reporters are out for lunch. Based from witnesses who were left in the office during the break,
 
Leuterio claimed he is the presidential bet of the Beta Epsilon Sigma, a fraternity and sorority foundation of engineers.
 
He claimed that he is the nephew of vice president Noli de Castro, who will be his running mate in the 2010 polls.
 
A mini pamphlet left in the poll body office shows that aside from De Castro, Leuterio has already completed its senatorial slate, which includes engineers and former public servants.
 
Another potential presidentiable is a certain Manny Lopez. He wore a Comelec ID, which identified him as a "legal council" during the 2001 polls. He claimed to be the head of a coalition called "People Power Partylist.”
 
Lopez told the amused media practitioners and Comelec officials that he studied economics in Europe, that he juggled big-time jobs such as teaching in universities in Europe, and is an advisor for mayors and governors in his hometown Camarines Sur.
 
He also claimed to be the "head of microfilm" at the United Nations headquarters. He even bragged his proficiency in German and his former residency in New Jersey. He claimed that he has numerous real estate properties, which will be enough to fund his national campaign.
 
Leuterio and Lopez denied they are nuisance candidates.  
 
Beat the deadline
 
As expected by Comelec, established names vying for various national posts would be filing their COCs towards the December 1 deadline.
 
Among them are former president Joseph Estrada and Makati City mayor Jejomar Binay, who announced that they will be filing their COCs on November 30, Bonifacio day.
 
Estrada and Binay will be running for president and vice president, respectively, under the United Oppositions (UNO) party.
 
As of November 22, the Comelec has accepted COCs of 14 presidential, 1 vice presidential, 3 senatorial candidates.
 
The poll body, meanwhile, has 19 accredited groups for the party-list election, and 3 groups that submitted their manifestation of intent to participate in the polls.
 
The deadline for filing of COCs is on midnight of December 1.