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Wednesday, December 17, 2003
More presidential contenders file bid
* Villar warns failure to pass 2004 budget may postpone polls next year
THREE more people filed their candidacy for president with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Tuesday along with a man, who calls himself "Jesus Christ," who filed his vice presidential bid.
Based on records of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), three more people formally filed a bid to be the next president of the country, bringing to 17 the total number of those seeking the presidency.
Anacetas Aguilar, a missionary from Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija, appeared before the Comelec receiving clerks clad in a robe and singing praise songs before he filed his candidacy for president.
Rodrigo Lapita, 48, a postman from Culiat, Quezon City, and Merlito
Lagata, 59, a retired soldier from Tandang Sora, Quezon City, also filed their presidential candidacies.
On the other hand, Alfredo Ananayo, 58, a security guard from Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City, who calls himself "Jesus Christ" and is gunning for the vice presidential post.
Ananayo said his government platform would be based on the Holy Bible and that he prefers movie star Fernando Poe Jr. as his presidential runningmate "since the actor has enough funds to finance their campaign."
The Comelec is bound by law to root out nuisance candidates for any elective position.
Candidates for a national position should be able to wage a nationwide campaign.
Contenders for president and vice president have to provide a budget of P5 to P 10 per voter while senatorial bets would have to shell out P3 to P5 per voter.
Meanwhile, Sen. Manuel Villar Tuesday warned that failure to approve the supplemental budget for the 2004 elections, might lead to the postponement of the electoral exercise next year.
Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, thus urged his colleagues in Congress to immediately enact the supplemental budget, amounting to P5 billion, not later than this week or before the Christmas break.
He said the supplemental budget is the last resort to fund the upcoming elections since the proposed 2004 national budget has not yet been approved by the House of Representatives.
Villar said the 2003 budget, if reenacted, is not enough since it does not include funds for the elections.
He said the Senate is running out of time to enact the supplemental outlay since majority of the legislators would be busy for the campaign after the Christmas break. Marie Neri/JPM
(December 17, 2003 issue)
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