TWENTY-two individuals, led by Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, have filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for president in the coming May 2016 elections at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
On the other hand, Sen. Gregorio B. Honasan II, who launched several failed coup attempts during the term of the late President Corazon C. Aquino, led other aspirants for vice president during Monday’s first day of filing of COCs.
Aside from Binay who is running under his political party United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), those who filed their COCs for president as of presstime were former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Chief Augusto Syjuco Jr. and former Chairman Camilo Sabio of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.
Both Syjuco and Sabio are running as independent.
Other presidential wannabes who filed their COCs were lawyer Elly Pamatong, Ephraim Defino (Mindanao Federal Party), David Alimorong (retired Army general), engineer Ralph Masloff, Adolfo Inductivo (retired Army commander) and Danilo Lihaylihay.
Others joining the presidential race are Freddie Llamas, Fernando Fortes, Sel Hope Kang, Ferdinand Pijao, Ramon Concepcion, Erica Nagapatan, Gerald Arcega alias Sultan Mohammad Issa, Leonardo Bula, Alejandro Ignacio, Arsenio Dimaya and Art Reyes.
Reyes told reporters that he would push for the annexation of the country by the US as its 51st state.
Binay was accompanied by wife Elenita and children, Sen. Nancy Binay, UNA Rep. Abigail Binay of Makati City and suspended Makati City Mayor Binay, when he filed his COC.
“Sa tulong ng Poong Maykapal, sa suporta ng taumbayan, at sa pagkakaisa nating lahat, sisimulan natin ang pagtahak ng landas tungo sa tunay na pagbabago na mag-aangat at magpapaginhawa ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” said Binay in a statement.
The Vice President said that if he were elected president, he would push propoor programs, which he said has been overlooked by previous administrations.
Pamatong promised to defend the country’s disputed territories with China if elected president.
Syjuco, on the other hand, said he is running to represent the “angry Filipino,” who are already tired of the continuous corruption and lies by the present administration.
Sabio, meanwhile, noted that he is the only person with disability to gun for the presidency.
Masloff, described himself as a Filipino with Russian blood while Llamas said he is a tricycle driver.
Lihaylihay, on the other hand, said he is running to push for a change in the country’s current political, social and economic system, which he described as unjust, oppressive and undemocratic.
Rizalito David of Kapatiran party also filed a COC for president together with his running mate Albet Alba.
Esmeraldo B. Reyes was the 22nd individual to file a COC for president on the first day of filing.
Aside from Honasan, a certain Myrna Mamon also filed a COC for the Vice President position.
Those who have filed their COCs for the senatorial post were former Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson and Party-list Rep. Neri J. Colmenares of Bayan Muna.
Lacson filed his COC as an independent despite the announcement of the administration’s Liberal Party including him on its slate.
Other senatorial aspirants who have filed their COCs are Daniel Magtira, who claimed presidential sister, Kris Aquino, is his “wife”; Angel Redoble; Ricy Bacolod; Victorino Inte; Elmer Santarin; Rafael Lagindao; Jose Kwe; Armando Cortez; Ramon Osano; John Odonnell Petalcorin; Robert Marin; and Eduardo de la Peña.
More presidential, vice presidential and senatorial aspirants are expected to troop to the Comelec to beat the deadline for the filing of their COCs on Friday.
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said the Comelec would entertain all those who will be filing their COCs as part of its ministerial duty.
After the last day of the filing of the COC, which is on Friday, Bautista said the Comelec would review all the qualifications of the candidates in order to disqualify the so-called nuisance candidates. He said the Comelec would come up with the official list of candidates for the 18,069 positions by December 10.
He said the almost two months will be enough for the Comelec to exercise due diligence in disqualifying those to be considered as nuisance candidates.
“We have to have a ruling to give them opportunity to disprove preliminary findings that they are nuisance,” said the poll chief.