More party-list contenders lining up

MANILA - The fifth day for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) saw the number of presidential aspirants rising to a total of 25, the vice presidential to only 2, and senatorial to 13.

Despite the already long list of those who want to land in Malacañang, it has yet to include the survey frontrunners, who are all expected to register on the last few days of the filing period.

After days of rejecting the filing of 70-year-old David Alimorong for lacking the required attachments, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finally accepted his COC. Alimorong said that he once served in the military, and he's a businessman now.

Pampanga resident Gregorio "Manok" Samia also tried filing a number of times before the poll body finally accepted his COC. He said it will be nature, and not the Filipino people, that will support his candidacy.

Housewife Nancy Megio of Tanauan, Batangas, wants to make a bid for the presidency. She went frantic at the Comelec office after she found out that she didn't have 5 copies of her COC, as the Comelec required.

The oldest of the 4 new aspirants, 71-year old Orlando Abitona, didn't indicate his occupation.

In the senatorial race, among those who want to take chance are Aeric Bernardino, civil engineer from Caloocan City. He said he will promote the Filipino identity, educate Filipinos, and alleviate poverty when elected. He said he will create a Philippine encyclopedia, and a national TV show. He wants to change the mechanics of the lottery game, so the multi-million jackpot prizes wouldn't go to just one winner. He also wants to construct a rail transit system in the highly populated cities of Davao and Cebu.

Sixty-year-old Alex Poyatas, another senatorial aspirant, said his original surname was "Payatas" and that be belongs to one of the oldest families in the country.

He said his family gave away their land in Payatas, which benefited more than 6,000 people. He said he wants to fight poverty in the country through infrustructure and industrial development. He wants to focus on developing the fishing industry which, according to him, is promising yet neglected. A native of Nueva Viscaya, he claims to have worked in the United States Agency for International Development.

Seven party-list groups filed their manifestations to participate in the 2010 elections:

• Anak ng Pantalan (ASPAN), a Cebu based sectoral group claiming to represent labor, fishermen, and urban poor
• You Against Corruption and Poverty (YACAP), occupies 2 seats in the House
• Alliance of National Urban Poor Organizations Assembly, Inc. (ANUPA)
• ABAKADA Guro, occupies 1 seat in the House
• Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), national political party which hopes to end poverty
• Aabante Emmanuel Civic Organization (EMMANUEL)
• Association of Administrators, Professionals, and Seniors (AAPS)

(Newsbreak)