Last day for local bets to file candidacies

With less than 48 hours to go before the midnight deadline today, aspirants for local elective positions filed their certificates of candidacy before Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices across the country yesterday.

Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said no untoward incident was reported as candidates trooped to poll offices nationwide to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 14 local elections.

"So far, there have been no reports of problems from our field officers. It is going smoothly," Abalos said.

Abalos reminded candidates to attach a copy of their drug test results to their COC as required by the Comelec.

Candidates for local positions began flocking to the Comelec’s main office in Intramuros, Manila last Monday to file their COCs.

Among them was Roman Romulo, son of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, as congressman in the lone district of Pasig City; Weslie Gatchalian for the second District of Valenzuela City and Rexlon Gatchalian for the first district of the city.

Both are brothers of re-electionist Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian.

There was Danton Remoto who filed his candidacy for the third congressional district of Quezon City after his effort to seek accreditation of his group Ang Ladlad was turned down by the Comelec.

Others who filed their COCs were re-electionist Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar, and Jett Reyes, the son of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes, who will be running as congressman for the second district of Taguig.

Performance speaks

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista filed their COCs at the Comelec office at the City Hall compound in Quezon City.

They were accompanied by re-electionist congressmen of the city’s four districts — Vincent "Bingbong" Crisologo, Annie Susano, Mat Defensor and Nanette Castelo Daza — along with re-electionist councilors of the city in filing their respective COCs.

Belmonte led the candidates in marching to the Comelec office under the midday sun.

"We approach the exercise with confidence, our performance and changes during our watch will speak for themselves," Belmonte later told reporters after filing his candidacy.

Belmonte vowed to sustain the development of Quezon City by constructing more roads and school buildings.

He also promised to pursue more livelihood projects for the poor residents of the city, who comprise 40 per cent of its 2.4 million population.

Susano, for her part, denied earlier reports she is running against Belmonte. "Those were unfounded rumors, I am with the SB Unity team," she said.

HEARTS campaign

In Batangas, Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos-Recto filed her COC to run as governor with her brother-in-law, Vice Governor Ricky Recto finally agreeing to run as representative of the fourth congressional district of the province.

Santos will have as running mate Edwin Ermita, son of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who also filed his candidacy at the local Comelec office in Batangas City.

Re-electionist Sen. Ralph Recto expressed support for his wife and elder brother for ending the political row.

"My prayers are answered. I feel very light emotionally and mentally," Santos blurted out.

In front of the television cameras, Ricky grabbed his sister-in-law, hugged and kissed her in the effort to show a sign of reconciliation while the senator watched in the sidelines.

"This is not about our family. This is about the good of the province," Senator Recto said

After the filing her COC, Santos-Recto presided over a news conference where she presented her platform of government.

"My governance would be focused on H.E.A.R.T.S which stands for Health, Education, Agriculture, Roads, Tourism and Security," the actress-turned-politician said.

"I’ve been successful in running the city of Lipa with my 10-point agenda, I hope Hearts would be effective in the whole province of Batangas," she said.

Switching places

In Metro Manila, Mandaluyong City Mayor Neptali Gonzales III announced his plans to change places with Rep. Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. for the May 14 polls.

Gonzales and Abalos told a news conference that they both feel serving their constituencies better if they trade places once more.

Gonzales, son of the late senator Neptali Gonzales Jr., said the decision to change places with Abalos goes beyond family ties.

"We’re more than brothers," Gonzales declared saying their unity was forged by personal friendship, which he added, would be the key to the progress of the city.

Abalos, for his part, admitted he is more comfortable as the city’s chief executive, although he claimed to have made his mark as a congressman.

"Just the other day, the House (of Representatives) passed the bill I sponsored ... (calling) for all public lands which has tenants residing for over 20 years be automatically subjected to a negotiated sale instead of undergoing the process of bidding," he said.

Abalos will have three-term city councilor Rene Sta. Maria as his running mate.

Both Abalos and Gonzales will be running under the banner of the ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

A show of force

In Pampanga, provincial board member Lilia "Baby" Pineda filed her candidacy for the gubernatorial race with re-electionist Vice Gov. Yeng Guiao as her running mate.

As early 9 a.m. Pineda and Guiao knocked at the Comelec provincial office in San Fernando to file their COCs.

Hundreds of supporters turned up with 16 of the mayors, barangay officials, members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, among others who witnessed Pineda and Guiao filing their COCs at the Comelec office.

Pineda claimed she heeded the call of the greater number of her province mates to challenge the incumbent Gov. Mark Lapid "to stop the gross inexcusable corruption in the provincial capitol for the last 12 years."

Guiao, for his part, said he would actively cooperate with Pineda in running the affairs of the provincial government through the assistance of all the mayors, barangay officials and the active involvement of the common masses.

Later in the day, Lapid and his running mate Paul "Con-Con" Laus filed their COCs.

Pineda and Guiao will be running under the administration allied Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) as against Lapid and Laus under the ruling Lakas-CMD.

Controversial "spike boy" Elly Pamatong also announced his intention to join the gubernatorial race by filing his COC today.

In a statement, Pamatong said he wants to give Kapangpangans the clear alternative between "leadership based on money and one that it anchored on competence and professionalism."

"Indeed, this is a war between Money-talk-cracy and Meritocracy," the lawyer said.

Pamatong promised to transform Pampanga into a show window of total honesty in public service and an international model for "meritocratic democracy."

Pamatong was earlier disqualified by the Comelec for being a nuisance candidate in the 2004 presidential elections.

Pamatong earned the monicker "Spike Boy" by scattering metal spikes on the busy streets of Metro Manila as a sign of protest for his disqualification.

Pamatong claimed this was also a sign of protest against government corruption and his belief that the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. won the 2004 presidential elections.

‘It’s my right’

Controversial retired Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan officially sealed his entry into the political contest by accepting the nomination of a party-list group.

"I have the intention to participate. It’s my right," Palparan declared before a media forum in Manila yesterday.

Palparan will be running a party list representative of Bantay, a group of security guards, militiamen,

barangay watchmen, still seeking accreditation from Comelec to participate in the party list elections.

Branded as "The Butcher" by militant groups accusing him of the summary killings of leftists in areas where he was assigned, Palparan said he will bring the battle against the enemies of the state to the halls of Congress.

Palparan said he was encouraged by his supporters to run for Congress after his retirement.

Palparan said if given a chance to serve in Congress, he will be working to improve the lives of the security sector through legislation.

Former immigration commissioner Rufus Rodriguez also filed his certificate of candidacy for congressman of Cagayan de Oro City.

Follow the road

On the other hand, the eldest daughter of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales is also running for the second congressional district of Bataan.

Maria Aurora Gonzales filed her COC in Balanga town yesterday, further increasing the number of children of Cabinet members seeking elective posts this May.

Other children of Cabinet members seeking elective posts include Edwin Ermita, son of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is running as vice governor of Batangas with Santos-Recto.

Batangas Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain, also a daughter of the Executive Secretary, is seeking re-election in the first district of Batangas.

Dong Mendoza, son of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, is also seeking a congressional post in the same province.

Gonzales, on the other hand, was supposed to run as congressman of Bataan to challenge incumbent administration Rep. Albert Garcia but President Arroyo prevailed upon him to remain as her national security adviser.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye downplayed concerns of emerging political dynasties in the Arroyo Cabinet.

Bunye stressed the people will still decide on the fate of the candidates. -With Perseus Echeminada, Arnell Ozaeta, Jaime Laude, Ric Sapnu, Non Alquitran, Paolo Romero