22 early birds want to roost in Malacañang Palace

Instant campaign

A balding Alejandro Ignacio marked his official entry as a presidential candidate with a grand entrance and a speech directed at Comelec staff processing COCs.

“I will save the 100 million Filipinos who are suffering from hunger and poverty,” the 76-year-old Ignacio said in a booming voice.

But a Comelec staff member cut him off, informing him that a podium had been set up at the end of the hall on the ground floor for candidates who wanted to introduce their platforms to the press.

ONEFOR THEROAD Taxi driver
Alejandro Ignacio RICHARD A. REYES

“But there is freedom of speech,” Ignacio began to argue but he saw Comelec Chair Andres Bautista, who shook his hand.

Ignacio told the Comelec chief that he was presenting himself to voters as an alternative choice of leader for the country. “This country needs a newcomer, a genuine leader,” he told Bautista, who politely listened to him but hinted to reporters later the possibility of a blanket disqualification for “nuisance candidates.”

Sel Hope Kang

Thirty-seven-year-old Sel Hope Kang showed strong emotion when she registered her candidacy for President.

“I want to make a difference in the whole world,” she said, adding that her campaign slogan was “dalisay na daan” (pure path) but did not explain what it meant.

When it was pointed out to her that she was three years short of the age requirement to run for President, Kang said she was exempted because she graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City.

Blanket ban

Speaking at a news conference later, Comelec Chair Bautista said he had asked the full election commission to look into the case of nuisance candidates and see if a blanket ban could be enforced to keep them out of elections.

“We will take that up [in our full-commission meeting tomorrow],” Bautista said.

In the meantime, he said the Comelec would accept COCs from all filers then proceed to determine which of them were nuisance candidates.

According to Comelec Resolution No. 8678, nuisance candidates are people who make a mockery of the election process, seek to confuse voters by using names similar to those of bona fide candidates, or have no real intention to run for public office.

Bautista said the final list of official candidates would be released on Dec. 10.

Kris Aquino’s ‘husband’

It remains to be seen if the list will carry the name of Daniel Magtira, a self-proclaimed husband of President Aquino’s sister, actress and television host Kris Aquino.

Magtira filed a COC for the senatorial race. In his COC, he listed the name of his wife as Kris Aquino and stated that he was officially nominated by movie actress Nora Aunor, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and H-World Gen. Royette Padilla.

During an interview with reporters, Magtira sang a song for Kris Aquino, whom he called “my wife,” expressing his desire to spend Christmas with her.

He said he hoped Kris would invite him to her morning show “Kris TV.”

“I woo Kris whenever it’s election time. I hope she will invite me to her show,” Magtira said.

He filed COCs for presidential and senatorial elections in the past, but was disqualified.

Paula Sagayo

In Baguio City, 60-year-old Paula Sagayo tried to register as a presidential candidate at the local Comelec office, but was given a blank COC and told to go to Manila and file it at the main office there.

Julius Torres, Comelec Cordillera regional director, said only the Comelec head office in Manila handled registrations for the presidential election.

Sagayo admitted her error and said she would go to Manila after she had completed her senatorial team, according to John Martin, Comelec Baguio election supervisor.

In Bulacan, Ermalyn Guyala Carmen, 47, a vulcanizing shop assistant from Balagtas town, tried to file a COC for the gubernatorial race, but was unsuccessful.

Elmo Duque, Bulacan election supervisor, said Carmen did not comply with the documentation requirements.

Poe’s challenger

Rizalito David, who brought a petition for the disqualification of Sen. Grace Poe, a presidential candidate, in the Senate Electoral Tribunal, also registered his candidacy for President.

His running mate is Albert Alba and they are running as candidates of Ang Kapatiran Party.

Pamatong told reporters that he was not a nuisance candidate.

“If the Filipino people only knew what I’ve been fighting for, I would have been 100 percent a winner,” he said. “I’m running because of obligation, not ambition.” With reports from Vincent Cabreza and Jessica Tabilin, Inquirer Northern Luzon, and Ron Lopez, Inquirer Central Luzon