13 aspirants join run for clean election

13 aspirants join run for clean election
by Rey Joble

Manila Standard Today
August 31,2009 Monday

THIRTEEN candidates for President and vice president pledged to run for clean elections next year, but Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay could have won as President with plenty to spare if the elections had been decided by yesterday’s foot race.

Only Binay joined the event organized by GMA-7 in Taguig City, finishing the 5-kilometer segment—the other being the 10-kilometer run—in 47 minutes while his fellow hopefuls took their sweet time at the breakfast table.

The president of the United Opposition was drenched in sweat after joining the more than 5,000 runners who took part in the 5K and 10K events.

“Before, I could [finish 5 kilometers] in 18 minutes, but I lacked preparation,” Binay said.

Senator Francis Pangilinan put on his shorts and sneakers but didn’t run, saying he lacked sleep.

Senators Francis Escudero, Dick Gordon, Manny Villar and Mar Roxas, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, and Olongapo City Councilor JC delos Reyes appeared in casual attires.

“I hope everybody is in great shape for a clean and honest election,” Gordon said.

Escudero, a crowd favorite like former President Joseph Estrada, came in a little late.

“My age is not an impediment to my running in the election,” said Escudero, who turns 40 in October and is the youngest presidential aspirant.

“I’m not emulating [US] President Barack Obama. We need to find our own identity, and the youth will be behind me in search of that identity.”

Estrada wore a blue jacket and jogging pants with a red stripe. He jogged his way to the stage, showing he was in top form for another crack at the presidency.

Estrada was driven from power in 2001 and convicted of plunder in 2007, but was pardoned by his successor Gloria Arroyo within weeks.

The Arroyo administration says the Constitution and the conditions of his pardon bar Estrada from running for President again, but Estrada claims otherwise.

He sees no problems with the many presidential aspirants.

“The more, the merrier, [but] I hope we avoid what happened in the 2004 elections [that was marred by cheating],” he said.

Evangelist Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord Movement, who ran for president in 2004, had his jogging pants on—as had Nikki Perlas, an environmentalist and adviser of President Arroyo—but they did not join the fun run.

Senators Jamby Madrigal, who wore gray jogging pants, and Loren Legarda, who was in jeans and rubber shoes, came in a few minutes later.

The aspirants bonded during a ceremonial walk, took an oath, and signed affidavits pledging clean elections in 2010.

Commission on Elections Chairman Jose Melo led the oathtaking, while National Movement for Free Elections chairman Henrietta de Villa, and Philippine Bar Association chairman Federico Agcaoili witnessed the affidavit signing.

“This is good for the country,” a Comelec official said.

The aspirants who didn’t make it were Vice President Noli de Castro, Senator Noynoy Aquino, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca.

De Castro was on a business trip to China, Aquino was still undecided, Puno and Teodoro were both sick, Panlilio was pre-occupied with the vote recount in Pampanga, and Padaca was on a business trip to Belgium.


8 presidential candidates
Mr.Expose --The Daily Tribune
09/10/2009

Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino announced yesterday at Club Filipino that he is running for President. Speaking in Tagalog he said:

"Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan. Tinatanggap ko ang bilin, at habilin, tagubilin ng aking mga magulang. Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan. Tinatanggap ko ang hamon na mamuno sa laban na ito. Tatakbo ako sa pagkapangulo sa darating na halalan."

All the four sisters, Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris were present at the dais giving full support to Noynoy�s decision. Ballsy spoke on behalf of the family. Kris left early to go to Balanga, Bataan to attend a mass for Cory.

He confirmed that he had offered the VP slot to Mar Roxas. He named four senatorial candidates, namely: Sen. Frank Drilon, Rep. Riza Hontiveros Baraquel, Rep. Ruffy Biazon and former Rep. Nereus Acosta of Bukidnon.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan was present but significantly one of the few who did not wear a yellow shirt and he was not applauding at all. Will he still run for vice president if Mar Roxas accepts Noynoy�s offer?

In response to a reporter�s question, Noynoy again reiterated that since he was accepting a people�s draft, he expects them to campaign and raise the necessary funds for him.

When asked about his plan for Mindanao, Noynoy hedged and said "it is talk, talk, talk because otherwise, there will be war, war, war."

With Noynoy�s announcement accepting to be the LP standard bearer and with Manny Villar definitely running as NP candidate, it is now definite that there will be no opposition unity behind only one presidential candidate. There will be at least four opposition candidates.

It is now clear that Joseph "Erap" Estrada will be throwing his hat into the ring. It is also clear that Sen. Butz Aquino who was present and who earlier was announced as a senatorial candidate in Manny Villar�s lineup will now be with Noynoy.

In the administration ranks, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD has split with FVR, Speaker Joe de Venecia and 50 original Lakas leaders meeting and announcing they will field a separate standard bearer.

Sen. Mar Roxas in an ANC interview with Ron Cruz did not categorically say that he was accepting the VP slot. He did not even set a time frame on when he will decide. He sounded like he preferred to just be a campaigner for Noynoy and the Liberal Party candidates.

Since he is the first one to categorically declare his presidential candidacy, give the 1st round to Noynoy in this 15 round-bout. Now the hard work begins. Looks like there will be eight candidates running for president � two from the administration ranks, four from the opposition and two independents.