Farmer, teacher, ‘Lucifer’ join presidential aspirants

DREAMER, TOO Rolando Pandes Merano, 59, of Quezon province, talks to journalists after filing his certificate of candidacy for senator. His T-shirt identifies himself as an “anti-Christ buster.” LYN RILLON

BRING IT ON.

This was Malacañang’s reaction as a new stream of presidential aspirants trooped to the poll body Tuesday—including a farmer who wants to create “a divine government,” a teacher favoring “absolute monarchy with unlimited power from God,” and a missionary with a nickname of “Archangel Lucifer.”

One of them even had a small American flag designed on his shirt.

Dynamism of democracy

The Palace welcomed the big number of presidential aspirants—or dreamers—saying it attested to the “dynamism of our democracy.”

A total of 37 people have filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for President, seven for Vice President and 25 for senator since Monday.

Nobody knows how many more aspirants—and who—will show up before the filing of candidacies end on Friday.

Tuesday’s dreamers included 75-year-old Alfredo Tindugan, a Catanduanes-based farmer, and Angelito Baluga, his vice presidential partner and a security guard.

‘New Jerusalem’

Tindugan and Baluga both said that if they got elected, they would establish a “divine government” in the Philippines. Tindugan said the world was God’s home and the “new Jerusalem.”

He lambasted the current government for offering to “sell” the Philippines to foreigners. “If the foreigners bought us, where are we going to be thrown (saan tayo itatapon)?” he said as he swore about his love for the country.

When reporters noted the small American flag design on his shirt, Tindugan said it was a gift to him and that he did not notice the flag when he dressed up. “I had no time to change because I was in a hurry to file my COC,” he explained.

Romeo John Ygonia, Bertrand Joseph Winstanley and Marita Arilla also filed their COCs for President.

Chosen by ‘master’

Ygonia, 51, a volunteer missionary from Benguet, said he was chosen and sent by “my master” to run in next year’s elections. “I had no choice but to oblige,” he told reporters.

When a reporter asked who his master was, he said: “He is dwelling in my heart.”

Winstanley said he wanted to eradicate poverty “so that everybody will be happy.”

He also called for a gunless society, vowing to push for antigun measures.

Unlimited power

Winstanley opposed the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, saying there should be no conflict between Christians and Muslims.

On the other hand, Arilla, a 70-year-old teacher, said he would push for an “absolute monarchy with an unlimited power from God.”

“Everything comes from God, nothing comes from me. It’s going to be from Him to me and to you. There is no more legislation,” she said.

‘Demon-crazy society’

Juanito Luna, a 62-year-old businessman from Cebu who is also aspiring for the presidency, said he would lead a “spiritual-based leadership” in a “demon-crazy” society.

Victor Quijano, a chemical engineer, said that if elected senator, he wanted to live in the Senate building. He said he favored the setting up of a federal system of government.

Commission on Elections Chair Andres Bautista has said that those who filed their COCs are not yet considered official candidates.

The official list of candidates will be released by Comelec on Dec. 10.

‘Chaff from grain’

In Malacañang, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Palace “expects our bosses—the Filipino people—to exercise their sound judgment in separating the proverbial chaff from the grain.”

Coloma said: “The candidates’ platform and track record provide concrete bases for assessing their fitness to serve.”

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda stressed the “importance of choosing leaders who put country before self.”

“Such a selfless attitude is necessary to continue the work of the past five years, to further build on the positive developments begun under this administration,” Lacierda said. With a report from Jerry E. Esplanada