Villar, Villanueva formalize presidential bids

TWO MORE presidential candidates formalized their bids for the presidency today at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) head office in Intramuros, Manila.

Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr.,together with his vice-presidential candidate Senator Loren B. Legarda and the party's senatorial slate filed their certificates of candidacies (CoC) at around 9:30 a.m. today.

The party's senatorial slate include: Adel A. Tamano, Pamantasan ngLungsod ng Maynila President and lawyer ; Gwendolyn C. Pimentel-Gana, eldest daughter of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr.; former Marine officer Ramon Victor B. Mitra, son of the late former House Speaker Ramon V. Mitra; former Labor Undersecretary Susan V. Ople, daughter of the late former senator Blas F. Ople; Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr., son of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos; reelectionist Senator Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano; and former Marine Col. Ariel O. Querubin, who is facing coup charges. Mr. Querubin, who arrived at Comelec in full military uniform, got a special pass from detention.

The party's guest candidates are Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Senator Ramon B. Revilla, Jr.

Reiterating his platform to eradicate poverty and corruption, Mr. Villar, 59, said the NP’s slate represents almost all sectors of the society, among others, environment, overseas Filipino workers, military, health, women, and labor.

“This is the start of the fulfillment of our aspiration to lift [the]Filipinos out of poverty,”Mr. Villarsaid in Filipino.

The former Senate President, who was accused of corruption in a road extension project in southern Metro Manila, was accompanied by his family when he filed his candidacy.

In a chance interview, NP spokesman Gilbert Remulla said the party has reserved two slots for Party-list Reps. Saturnino C. Ocampo (Bayan Muna) and Liza L. Maza (Gabriela).

The leftist lawmakers, who filed their CoCs yesterday, have decided to run as independent candidates due to NP’s alliance with theMarcos-led Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party. “Talks have been ongoing. We are discussing contentions issues,” he said.

Villanueva to run again

Meanwhile, Bangon Pilipinas party candidates led by its standard
bearer Eduardo C. Villanueva also filed their bids today.

The 63-year-old evangelist, with running mate former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Perfecto Yasay. Jr. and the party’s five-man senatorial candidates filed their CoCs at around 10:30 a.m. today.

The party’s senatorial ticket include: broadcast journalists Alex
Tinsay and Kata Inocencio; Zafrullah Alonto, who represents the Muslim community; Ramoncito Ocampo, an El Shaddai preacher; and Israel Virginez, who represents the Seventh Day Adventist academic
community.

“Today, genuine change is given a face. Not of celebrities, but of servants who represent sectors crying out for reforms,” said Mr. Villanueva, who placed fifth in the 2004 presidential elections.

Erap seeking reelection

Deposed President Joseph E. Estrada has also formalized his
bid to seek reelection.

Mr. Estrada, 77, with running mate Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay and the United Opposition’s eight senatorial candidates filed their
CoCs at around 11:30 a.m. today.

Included in the party’s senatorial slate are: Senate President Juan
Ponce Enrile, chairman emeritus of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino; his son
Senate Pro-Tempore Jose E. Estrada, detained Brig. Gen. Danilo P. Lim; broadband deal whistle-blower Jose P. de Venecia III; Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo G. Plaza III, Rep. Negros Occidental Apolinario L.
Lozada, Jr., former Sanlakas Party-list Rep. Jose Virgilio L. Bautista
with Ms. Santiago and Mr. Revilla as guest candidates.

Mr. Lim and Ms. Defensor have filed their CoC last week.

After the filing, Mr. Estrada said he will run under the same platform that catapulted him to victory in 1998: eradicating poverty, fighting graft and corruption, promoting the welfare of the masses and peace and order.

The former chief executive garnered 11 million votes, the highest vote for a presidential candidate in Philippine history, when he first run
for president in 1998. The actor-turned-politician, ousted in 2001 amid allegations of corruption, was sentenced to life imprisonment for plunder in October 2007.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in November 2007 granted Mr. Estrada executive clemency, restoring his political and civil rights.

John Carlos De los Reyes, standared bearer of the Ang Kapatiran party and environmental activist Nicanor Jesus P. Perlas III have earlier formalized their presidential bids.

The filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2010 elections is scheduled until tomorrow.--Adriel M. Paglinawan