Comelec issues official list of candidates today

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to release today the official list of candidates for president, vice president and senators in the May elections.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said that two presidential hopefuls who have been disqualified earlier might make it to the list.

“Two might be included but I cannot name them yet. Let’s wait for (today’s) promulgation,” Sarmiento said.

The Comelec had released the initial list of candidates for president last Dec. 15. The presidential aspirants are Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party (LP); John Carlos delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran; former President Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP); Senators Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan and Jamby Madrigal, independent; Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of Lakas-Kampi-CMD; Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas and Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party (NP).

They were among the 99 individuals who had filed certificates of candidacy (COC) for president.

Among those declared nuisance candidates were environmentalist Nicanor Perlas; former Manila congressman Mark Jimenez and lawyers Oliver Lozano and Elly Pamatong.

Those who qualified to run for vice president are Sen. Mar Roxas of LP; Dominador Chipeco Jr. of Ang Kapatiran; former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando; Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay of PDP-Laban; Sen. Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition; actor Edu Manzano of Lakas-Kampi-CMD; broadcaster Jay Sonza of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan and former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Perfecto Yasay Jr.

Of the 158 persons who filed COCs to run for senator, the Comelec had considered only 58.

Among those disqualified were former Scout Ranger commander Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim; professor Danton Remoto of Ang Ladlad; and former Cebu Gov. Lito Osmeña.

Sarmiento said the Comelec would come up with the list of qualified party-list organizations tomorrow. 

No backing out

Former President Estrada declared yesterday he would push through with his presidential bid amid speculations that he would withdraw from the race ahead of the decision of the Comelec to disqualify him from the May 10 presidential race.

“I have no plans to withdraw. It is not within my vocabulary to retreat from a challenge. I will finish the race,” Estrada said.

He said the reports saying that he would withdraw from the presidential race and support another candidate are part of black propaganda hatched by his detractors.

Estrada also noted reports that said he would withdraw to preempt the Comelec from its decision disqualifying him from the presidential race.

“Of course, there are black propaganda against me. They said I will be disqualified and the votes for me will be wasted. The other one is that I will withdraw. It will never happen to me,” Estrada said.

Estrada maintained he wants to repay the poor Filipinos for their unconditional support.

“The poor Filipino masses did not abandon me even when I was incarcerated and despite all the accusations leveled against me by the few elite. As a repayment of my debt of gratitude to the poor Filipino masses, I want to continue my unfinished pro-poor programs,” Estrada said.

Estrada was ousted from power in January 2001 amid accusations of corruption.

He was later charged and convicted of plunder but subsequently granted pardon by his successor President Arroyo in 2007.

Estrada is running again for the presidency despite the constitutional prohibition against former presidents seeking reelection.

In the latest surveys, Estrada was consistently third among the eight presidential candidates.

Estrada, however, said it is still too early to conclude who among the presidential wannabes has strong chances in the May elections.

“It is still more than four months before the elections. The people are not yet decided. They are still changing. We can conclude that one month before the elections,” he said.

United Opposition (UNO) spokesman Ernesto Maceda said everything has been prepared for Estrada’s campaign next month.

Maceda also belied reports that Estrada is withdrawing from the presidential race.

Maceda particularly denied reports that Nacionalista Party’s Villar and Aquino of the Liberal Party are separately negotiating with Estrada to withdraw from the race and promising to reimburse his campaign expenses.

“This is all black propaganda, and there is absolutely no truth to these rumors being spread by the Villar camp and that of Sen. Noynoy Aquino’s that President Estrada intends to withdraw in their favor. There have been no meetings, no negotiations - these are all false reports,” Maceda said.

The former senator said supporters of other presidential candidates were peddling the reports in the attempt to derail the momentum of Estrada’s campaign.

Maceda also said Estrada’s decision to attend the National Security Council (NSC) meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday underscored the former president’s intention to take an active role in the formation of national policies addressing security, peace and order, and the holding of clean and credible elections.

“As shown by his views during the meeting, president Erap (Estrada) is fully prepared to discuss problems and solutions facing the country,” Maceda said. – Sheila Crisostomo, Jose Rodel Clapano