Aquino-Roxas tandem in 2010 Elections Spurns Reactions

In an article made by The Manila Times, Malacanang is optimistic that the Aquino-Roxas tandem can be easily beaten in the coming presidential elections.  The article says:

The administration on Friday said that it was intrigued by the possibility of Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd running on the same ticket in the presidential elections in 2010.

But the Palace, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde added, was confident of beating that dream tandem in the presidential and vice presidential races.

“Of course, Noynoy for president and Mar Roxas for vice president, or vice versa, is a very interesting tandem,” he said during a media briefing.

But the Press Secretary added that Aquino’s decision was a matter that concerns the Liberal Party. The administration party is the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats, which is eyeing Vice President Noli de Castro as its presidential candidate. 

But even the Palace appears to be cognizant of the so-called Cory Magic, referring to the sympathy votes that Sen. Aquino may get because of the recent death of his mother—former President Corazon Aquino.

Remonde said that Senator Aquino has inherited the “great legacy of leadership” bequeathed by his mother and father, the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Ninoy’s assassination in 1983 triggered protests that culminated in the 1986 People Power revolt that ousted then-President Ferdinand Marcos.

Despite the seeming popularity of an Aquino-Roxas ticket, Remonde said the administration remained confident about winning the elections next year.

“Regardless the political configuration of various groupings, the administration has its own strategy, but I’m not in a position to really speak up or elaborate considering that I am not very much involved in the political aspect of this administration,” he added.

The tandem has also stirs  reaction from within the Liberal party as the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported in today's headline,


The outpouring of public sentiment over the death of former President Corazon Aquino and the consequent clamor for her son, Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, to run for higher office may have added luster to the Liberal Party.

But it has placed Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas, until Cory Aquino’s death early this month the acknowledged presidential standard-bearer of the LP, in a somewhat awkward position.

While Roxas has to protect his front-runner status in the party’s presidential stakes, he cannot do so too strongly as to alienate the pro-Aquino forces in the LP who, if truth be told, would prefer Noynoy to be the party’s standard-bearer.

Typically, Roxas on Saturday said he was as determined as ever to run for President in 2010. But in the next breath, he said he would submit himself to the party’s selection process governing the choice of the party standard-bearer.

"There is no turning back for me. I want to make big changes in our country and the presidency is the only vantage point at which that can be done," Roxas said in a statement.

But in later phone and radio interviews, Roxas explained that what he meant was that the party would soon start its selection process for the presidential standard-bearer and he would submit to it.

Calls for Noynoy to run for either president or vice president have mounted since his mother’s death, and party officials said the selection process has hardly started while they wait for Noynoy to make up his mind.

Some party officials, like former Senate President Jovito Salonga, the LP chair emeritus, have suggested a Roxas-Aquino team-up for 2010.

But there are other equally strong voices clamoring for an Aquino-Roxas pairing.


The race has barely started and surely more are expected from all directions.

Villanueva to join 2010 presidential derby

 Religious leaders are starting to show up in the presidential candidate list.  Bro. Eddie Villanueva has formally announced his intentions in running in 2010 presidential elections. Below is an article in today's Philippines Star.

******************************

By Dino Maragay (philstar.com) Updated August 21, 2009 02:27 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Spiritual leader Eddie Villanueva has formally announced his bid to run in the May 2010 presidential elections.

Villanueva made the declaration today (Aug. 21) in front of supporters and members of the Bangon Pilipinas Party at a gathering at the Barasoain Church in Malolos City, Bulacan.

The evangelist and his group trooped to the historic church this morning also to commemorate the 26th death anniversary of former opposition leader and Sen. Benigno 'Ninoy' Aquino Jr.

Villanueva, head of the Jesus is Lord Church, previously ran and lost in the 2004 presidential elections.

Sabungeros eye party-list seats

By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) Updated August 18, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - A group of cockfighting aficionados is among the more than 200 organizations seeking accreditation with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to run in the 2010 party-list polls.

In a four-page petition, the Alyansa ng Sabungero claimed that their sector – composed of kristo, asentista, kasador, sentenciador, mananari, largador, matchmaker, takilyador and backyard breeder – is marginalized and, therefore, needs to be represented in Congress.

“(We) lead a hand-to-mouth existence... earning only if the tahor (we) work for wins and earns,” the petition noted.

The group listed a certain Nid Anima as its president and has office at Huelva street, Camella Townhouse in Sucat, Parañaque.

Cockfighting is one of the favorite pastimes of Filipinos. Some of the popular politicians in the country are known and avid sabungeros, like former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, former Tarlac congressman Jose “Peping” Cojuangco who is now Philippine Olympic Committee president, Rizal ex-governor Casimiro Ynares, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and presidential adviser on revenue enhancement Narciso “Jun” Santiago Jr., husband of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Even boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is an avid sabungero. Pacquiao has announced plans to run for congressman in Sarangani province in 2010.

Yesterday was the deadline for the filing of accreditation for party-list groups.

As of 5 p.m., a total of 264 organizations have filed for accreditation, including Ang Ladlad which represents gays, lesbians, transgenders and bisexuals.

According to Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento, the poll body intends to screen all groups for their track records, constituency, previous projects, source funding and if they are truly marginalized.

Sarmiento added they would reject a party-list group if it is found to be funded by either the government or religious groups.

Comelec chairman Jose Melo said they hope to trim down to at least 50 the number of party-list groups that would participate in next year’s elections for the sake of voters and to streamline the ballots.

Asked why he thinks many groups wanted to run in the party-list elections, the poll chief claimed it is either because of the pork barrel given to congressional representatives and the “typical Filipino mentality” to form his own group when rejected by a group.

“We have to be strict. Otherwise, there would be a lot of names that need to be printed in the ballots,” Melo added.

The other party-list groups that filed for accreditation are All Rainbow Party, United Filipino Seafarers, Aabot, Alab ng Lahi, Partido Lakas ng Masa, Citizen Call for Action, Better Philippines, One Nation Empowered with Technology, Liwanag sa Bilangguan, OFWs, Alagaan Natin Ating Kalusugan, Grand Bohol and Balikatan.

------------


I'm just worried that in the future jueteng lords will also file their own party-list  --- "Anak ng Jueteng".


Jon

Let Noynoy grieve first, politics can come later - Mar

Let Noynoy grieve first, politics can come later - Mar

BACOLOD CITY , Philippines   – Sen. Manuel Roxas II bared yesterday that his partymate in the Liberal Party, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, is still grieving and calls for him to seek a higher position should presently be set aside.

“Just give him time and space. He has just lost his mother. There will be time for politics,” said Roxas, who is LP’s presidential aspirant.

He said that as a friend of Senator Aquino, he tries to be available for him, whenever he wants someone to talk to.

Roxas said that Aquino is one of those being considered for the vice presidential post even before former President Corazon Aquino’s death. However, he stressed this is not the time to discuss these matters.

Television host Korina Sanchez, fiancée of Roxas, said that she also wants Aquino to hold a higher public office.

“They (Roxas and Aquino) are very much alike. They stand for what is right,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez, Roxas’ travel companion in provincial sorties nationwide, accompanied the senator to a meeting with supporters here yesterday.

They also visited the Central Market, where, Roxas said, they bought inexpensive fresh produce, alluding to criticisms hurled at President Arroyo about expensive dinners in her recent trip to United States.

It is obvious that Arroyo has become detached from the realities ordinary Filipinos face everyday, he said.

He also gave his support to the call of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to investigate the infomercials of government officials aired over national television.

If they are using public funds, they have to be held accountable, Roxas said.

With the huge turnout at the wake of the late President Aquino and now the public clamor for her son to run for higher office, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. thinks that Senator Aquino is qualified to run for president.

Pimentel said Senator Aquino would be a big threat to the candidacy of Roxas.

In a press conference, Pimentel said the senator and only son of President Aquino and former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. is “very qualified” to run because he has been in politics for some time. 

“(He is) very qualified, he has been a congressman for many terms and now senator. Of course, I would assume he inherited the genes of his parents, that desire to serve the public,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel said it would still be up to the members of LP that are supporting Roxas to decide whether to accept Senator Aquino as the party’s standard-bearer or if Roxas would slide down and run for vice president.

“Of course, it remains to be seen what the reaction of the LP would be because he belongs to the LP. And if he runs for president against the wishes of Roxas, for example, the LP will now have three wings: the Atienza wing, Roxas wing, and Noynoy wing, but birds can fly only on two wings. I have not heard of a bird with three or more wings, so what I’m saying is that is a matter the LP would have to decide on their own, whether they really want to push Noynoy,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel said Noynoy has the advantage of the Aquino name and the fact that his mother died with the national adulation for her good person still intact. “So he can cash in on that and then of course there is also Kris (Aquino)… who is no amateur, for lack of better term, on selling products,” Pimentel said. 

By Antonieta Lopez – With Christina Mendez
The Philippine Star
Updated August 15, 2009 12:00 AM

Voter's Registration

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) en banc has released the calendar of activities and periods of prohibited acts in connection with the conduct of the May 10, 2010 national and local elections.

The COMELEC, in Resolution No. 8646, promulgated July 14, 2009; said the election period will run from January 10, 2010 until June 9, 2010. Prohibited during this period, the COMELEC added are the alteration of territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct; the bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons in public places; suspension of local elective officials; and transfer of officers and employees in the civil service, etc.

The COMELEC pegged the campaign period for candidates for President, Vice-President, Senators and Party-List groups to February 9, 2010 until May 8, 2010.

Who Are Qualified to Register?

Any Filipino citizen, who is:

• a) At least eighteen (18) years of age on or before election day
• b) Has resided in the Philippines for at least one (1) year and in the place wherein he proposes to vote, for at least (6) months immediately preceding the election; and
• c) Is not otherwise disqualified by law, such as:

• Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment of not less than one (1) year;
• Any person adjudged by final adjudgement of having committed crimes such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the firearms laws and against national security;
• Insane or incompetent person as declared by competent authority.

Meanwhile, the campaign period for candidates for members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial, city and municipal officials will start March 26, 2010 and will end May 8, 2010.

The COMELEC has also set August 17, 2009 as the last day for filing of petitions for registration of political parties and for parties, organizations and coalitions under the Party-List system of representation.

The filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for all elective positions will run from November 20, 2009 until November 30, 2009. During the same period, registered party-list groups may also file manifestations of intent to participate in the party-list elections.

Casting of votes by overseas absentee voters (OAV) will start April 10, 2010 (Host country time) and will run until 3:00 PM of May 10, 2010 (Philippine Time).

Meanwhile, the country’s voters have from 7:00 AM until 6:00 PM to cast their votes on Election Day, May 10, 2010. ###