Bets urged to register early

Manila Standard Today

Bets urged to register early

by Joel E. Zurbano

THE Commission on Elections is reminding candidates for national positions to file their Certificates of Candidacy now and not wait until the last day before the Dec. 1 to submit them.

“If they delay too long and they get crushed at the end because of the number or volume of filers and this is especially true in the local races, that’s their own lookout. They are politicians they are not exactly babes in the woods,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

Jimenez said the commission will stick to its scheduled deadline as the poll body received the papers of one of the first presidential candidates backed by an existing political party.

The standard-bearer of Ang Kapatiran Party Olongapo City Councilor John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes filed his certificate of candidacy for president together with his running mate Dominador “Jun” Chipeco Jr. at poll body’s central office at Palacio del Governador in Intramuros, Manila.

The 39-year-old De los Reyes said they decided to file their CoCs early so as to get it over and done with.

He said they came straight from a Mass in Sta. Cruz church that was attended by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, and Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias.

He was asked on what the bishops message to him. He said it was more of a message to the faithful.

“It’s a general message to the lay faithful that even if all the reforms are made in the Comelec, kung bulok yung binoboto natin balewala lang,” De los Reyes said.

The group’s senatorial candidates who also filed their CoCs were Rizalito “Lito” David, Atty. Jo Aurea Imbong, Atty. Zosimo Jesus “Jess” Paredes, Adrian “Dado” Sison, Reginald “Reggie” Tamayo, Hector “Tarzan” Tarrazona, and Manuel “Manny” Valdehuesa Jr.

In 1995, he ran and was elected city councilor of Olongapo. The organizations he helped propagate as an active member since 1995 was the National Renewal Movement and the Ang Kapatiran National Political Party or the Alliance for the Common Good, a registered political party that seeks to promote the politics of genuine social concern.

In the 2007 elections, among 27 local and national candidates, he was the lone winner of Ang Kapatiran Party, placing second among 10 slots for the Olongapo City Council.

By late afternoon yesterday, at least 18 have filed their certificates of candidacy for president, two for vice president and 18 for senator.