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Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Comelec names 6 prexy, 4 VP, 63 senatorial bets
MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc resolved to declare six bets for president, four for vice president and 63 for senators as official candidates for the May 10 elections.
However, candidates facing disqualification complaint, like movie star Fernando Poe Jr. of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), will have to face the proceedings.
Of the 84 persons who filed their candidacies for president, only six were declared qualified to seek the country's highest post.
They are President Arroyo of the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4), businessman Eddie Gil of Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa party, Sen. Panfilo Lacson of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Aquino Wing, Poe of KNP, former Education Sec. Raul Roco of Aksyon Demokratiko, and religious leader Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas.
For vice president, the Comelec chose former Tarlac Rep. Herminio Aquino of Aksyon Demokratiko, Sens. Noli De Castro of K-4 and Loren Legarda of KNP and Rodolfo Pajo of Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa.
Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said the commissioners completed its deliberations on the recommendations of the law department.
Except for Villanueva, the law department earlier recommended Arroyo, Lacson, Poe, Gil and Roco as qualified candidates for president.
The law department likewise recommended the same persons who were eventually adopted by the commissioner en banc as official vice presidential candidates.
Villanueva was not included earlier because the evaluation of the law showed he has no capability to embark on a nationwide campaign.
Abalos said the number of official candidates might increase if the other contenders can convince the commission that they can conduct a nationwide campaign.
He said the other contenders have three days to file their manifestation and response why they should not be disqualified.
Commissioner Mehol Sadain, for his part, said the commission en banc decided to include Villanueva among the official candidates for president because he can still run as an independent candidate in case his Bangon Pilipinas party is not recognized as a political group.
Abalos, on the other hand, said Villanueva can be adopted by a political party.
For senator, the Comelec only found 63 candidates fit to run for the post out of the 88 aspirants. Marie Neri
(January 14, 2004 issue)
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