DETAINED former Navy Lieutenant Sergeant James Layug on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) as representative of Taguig City’s 2nd District vowing to transform politics in the city.

This, as he expressed confidence he and his colleagues, including Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, will be freed next year.

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“My candidacy is not just personal thing but a thrust of the Magdalo group for a brand-new government. I am offering myself to the residents of Taguig’s 2nd District as an alternative, independent candidate who knows what it is to suffer for my beliefs and conviction,” Layug said. “I will continue to push for advocacies that we had espoused at Oakwood in 2003.”

Layug was one of the officers who led some 300 enlisted personnel in seizing the posh hotel at Makati’s financial district in July 27, 2003 for which they were charged with coup d’etat before the Makati regional trial court.

Escorted by some 25 heavily-armed members of the police Special Action Force (SAF), Layug arrived at their family’s residence at the EP Housing, Western Bicutan, Taguig before addressing hundreds of supporters and members of the Samahang Magdalo and the Magdalo para sa Pagbabago of which he is the national president.

The group has about 40,000 members organized in 375 chapters nationwide.

It has an eight-point platform namely, selfless service to God and to nation, importance of family, leadership by example, a government of laws, genuine economic development program, environment protection, political maturity and social change.

A mass was also offered by his supporters prior to his filing of the COC.

But several members of the media were prevented from interviewing and taking footage of the gathering by the police contingent tasked to secure the rebel officer.

Earlier, Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda granted Layug’s request for temporary leave of detention for him to be able to file his COC.

The court is hearing the rebellion case of Layug and the other Magdalo officers for their involvement in the 2007 Manila Peninsula Hotel siege.

Layug said that if elected, he would push for social equity, justice, good governance, people empowerment, peace and order and environmental protection and management.

He said he would also push for legislation for the establishment of a satellite branch of the Veterans Memorial Hospital to care for military retirees and their dependents in Taguig.

About 50 percent of the population of the city’s 2nd district is made up of military retirees and their dependents.

Asked how he intend to run his campaign since he is in detention, Layug said his relatives, friends, and supporters have promised to campaign for him.

He said the Samahang Magdalo alone has about 4,000 members in the city.

He added they would make use of the Internet and mass media just like the candidacy of Trillanes in the 2007 mid-term election.

Trillanes and Layug both belonged to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1995.

“Nauunawaan ko po na mabigat ang laban na ito dahil sa ang aking mga kalaban ay may resources at sila ay malayang makakapangampanya pero hindi po yun hadlang sa aking kandidatura. Mulat na po ang ating mga kababayan at naniniwala akong hindi sila boboto ng basta basta,” he said.

But he is confident of winning his freedom once President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo’s term ended in 2010.

“I honestly believed that Mrs. Arroyo’s time is running out. Ours is a political case, so I’m quite confident that by 2010, we will get justice,” he added.

Aside from Layug, other Magdalo officers are also set to run in next year’s polls with Marine Captain Gary Alejano having filed his COC for the mayoral post of Sipalay City in Negros Oriental.

Alejano is also charged with coup d’etat and rebellion.

Four other Magdalo officers are running in various elective posts in the 2010 elections.

Former Air Force 1st Lieutenant Francisco Ashley Acedillo will be running for Congress in the First District of Cebu City, Army Captain Dante Langkit will run for Congress in the sole district of Kalinga Province, Brigadier General Danilo Lim and Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin for the Senate. (AH/Sunnex)