Ex-presidential candidate tries luck as senator

MANILA -- A defeated presidential candidate in the 2010 elections will again try his luck in the 2013 polls as he filed his certificate of candidacy for senator Thursday afternoon.

JC de los Reyes ran for president against nine candidates, including President Benigno Aquino III, independently. His uncle, former Senator Richard Gordon, was also a presidential bet then.

"It's painful to fight my uncle but we're doing it for principle," he told reporters.

Before he ran in the 2010 polls under the Ang Kapatiran Party, de los Reyes was a two-term councilor in Olongapo City.

Aside from de los Reyes, Ang Kapatiran Party will also field lawyer Marwil Llasos and Lito David in the 2013 midterm elections. They call themselves "Tatlo laban sa trapo."

All of Ang Kapatiran Party's national candidates in the 2010 polls lost. David also ran then.

"For the past so many days, peryahan, circus ang nangyari. Ang kailangan natin dignindad sa politika. Ang pampublikong serbisyo, kailangan may honor, dignidad, at karangalan," de los Reyes said.

Llasos, a newbie in national politics, said they are an alternative to the traditional politicians and political dynasties.

Llasos graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law.

"Gusto naming sabihin ang mga Pilipino, meron pang iba. Ang Kapatiran Party is running under a passport for a new Philippines," he said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)