MANILA, Philippines?Eight, 8 and 158.

These are the numbers of certificates of candidacy (CoCs) for president, vice president and senator, respectively, that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has initially approved for the national elections in May.

These figures were trimmed from the 99 presidential aspirants, 20 vice presidential hopefuls and 158 senatorial wannabes who filed CoCs from Nov. 20 to Dec. 1.

Comelec Chair Jose Melo Tuesday identified those running for president as follows: Sen. Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III (Liberal Party), JC de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran) and former President Joseph Estrada (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino).

Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan), Sen. Ana Consuelo ?Jamby? Madrigal (Independent), former Defense Secretary Gilbert ?Gibo? Teodoro (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas) and Sen. Manuel Villar (Nacionalista Party).

That the Comelec excluded some people?including environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, who filed a CoC for president as an independent, and gay activist Danton Remoto, who filed a CoC for senator also as independent candidate?did not mean that they were nuisance candidates.

Melo said the poll body did not approve the CoCs of other people because it appeared that they did not have the capacity and resources to launch a national campaign, one of the requirements mandated by the Comelec.

The short-listed candidates for vice president are Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino), Dominador Chipeco (Ang Kapatiran) and Bayani Fernando (Bagumbayan).

Sen. Loren Legarda (Nationalist People?s Coalition), actor Edu Manzano (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Sen. Manuel ?Mar? Roxas II (Liberal Party), broadcaster Jay Sonza (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) and former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Perfecto Yasay Jr. (Bangon Pilipinas).

List subject to change

Melo said the initial list of candidates was ?subject to change? as there were disqualification petitions filed against Aquino, Estrada, Teodoro, Madrigal and Roxas. The motions against them will be heard next week.

Melo also noted that the Comelec would have to hear the appeals.

?Their names can still be taken off the list if we rule on their disqualification case but not after there is a final decision already from the Supreme Court,? Melo said.

Those who want to appeal the Comelec?s ruling have until Monday to do so.

Perlas to appeal

Saying the presidential race is not just for the wealthy, Perlas said he would challenge the poll body?s decision.

In a phone call to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Perlas said: ?What the Comelec is saying is that you cannot be the president of the country if you?re not rich.?

He was reacting to the decision of the poll body excluding him from the list of approved presidential candidates reportedly for his lack of resources and machinery.

But Perlas said he had already mobilized more than 100,000 volunteers and more than 700 campaign coordinators in provinces and municipalities.

He also said he had been actively joining presidential debates and forums, some of which were organized by the Comelec itself.

?The decision was really surprising,? Perlas said.

He said that at least the poll body did not disqualify him in terms of qualifications and capability.

Perlas told his supporters he was still bent on pursuing his presidential bid and would legally appeal the poll body?s decision.

?I don?t think the Comelec has the legal authority to define what campaign is the appropriate type of campaign,? he said.

Complaint against Estrada

Melo said he expected some cases, such as the complaint filed against Estrada, to reach the Supreme Court.

The disqualification case against Estrada, who was ousted in 2001, argued that his second run for the presidency was unconstitutional.

The Comelec said it has yet to determine the party-list organizations qualified to run for seats in the House of Representatives. Melo said the poll body would release the names next week.

Pending the Supreme Court?s decision on the qualification of candidates, their names would be included in the ballot, Melo said.

Asked what would happen if the high court ruled after the ballots had been printed, Melo said the Comelec could calibrate the machines not to read disqualified candidates.

The disqualified politician could also send a substitution candidate, he added.

Senatorial candidates

The Comelec accepted the CoCs of the following senatorial aspirants:

Liberal Party?Nereus Acosta, Risa Hontiveros, Martin Bautista, Ruffy Biazon, Franklin Drilon, Teofisto Guingona III, Alexander Lacson, Yasmin Lao, Ralph Recto and Sonia Roco

Lakas-Kampi-CMD?Silvestre Bello III, Bong Revilla Jr., Ramon Guico, Raul Lambino, Rey Langit and Lito Lapid

Nacionalista Party?Pia Cayetano, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ramon Mitra, Susan Ople, Ariel Querubin, Gilbert Remulla and Adel Tamano

Nationalist People?s Coalition?Rodolfo Plaza and Vicente Sotto II

Ang Kapatiran?Rizalito David, Jo Imbong, Zosimo Paredes, Maria Gracia Piñozo-Plazo, Adrian Sison, Reginald Tamayo, Hector Tarrazona and Manuel Valdehuesa

Bangon Pilipinas?Zafrullah Alonto, Kata Inocencio, Ramoncito Ocampo, Reynaldo Princesa, Alexander Tinsay and Israel Virgines

Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino?JV Bautista, Joey de Venecia III, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Apolinario Lozada

PDP-Laban?Henry Caunan and Gwendolyn Pimentel

People?s Reform Party?Miriam Defensor-Santiago

Grand Alliance for Democracy?Francisco Tatad.

Kilusang Bagong Lipunan?Shariff Albani, Alma Lood, Regalado Maambong, Maria Judea Millora, Imelda Papin and Hector Villanueva

Independent candidates?Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Sergio Osmeña III and Jovito Palparan Jr.