With Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago announcing her intention to run for president in the 2016 elections under her People's Reform Party, there are now four serious presidential bets: Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance, Sen. Grace Poe of Partido Pilipino, and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte,
whose supporters had hoped would reconsider his earlier decision not to run for
president, reiterated on Monday that he is no longer running for higher
political office. Meanwhile, the declared candidates for vice president are
four senators— Bongbong Marcos, Alan Peter Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes IV, and
Gringo Honasan—and Rep. Leni Robredo.
But it's not
just the veteran politicians who are running. As of Tuesday, the second day of
the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) at the Comelec, the poll body had
tallied a total number of 37 presidential aspirants, with seven others vying
for the vice presidency, and 25 candidates for senator.
Why does the
Comelec entertain potential nuisance bets? It’s part of democracy, says the
poll body. After all, accepting the COCs of aspirants does not mean they would
all be listed in the ballots to be printed for the 2016 polls. The Comelec will
still trim down the official list of candates to those with the financial
resources and credible organization for a nationwide campaign.
In other words,
the 34 or so unknowns seeking to occupy high public office next year would have
to go back to the woodwork, as their 15 minutes of fame—or infamy—would be over
even before the official campaign period starts sometime in February next year.
Meantime, until
Friday, October 16, enjoy the politicial circus at the Comelec with
card-carrying crackpots and other assorted characters keeping us entertained
with their unconventional advocacies. Pass the popcorn, please.
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