Roco, Bro. Eddie file bids

Two estranged allies of President Arroyo – former education secretary Raul Roco and Christian television evangelist Eddie Villanueva – filed yesterday their candidacies for president in the May 2004 elections.

Roco, flanked by other politicians running under his independent Alyansa ng Pag-asa party, said he was "the first and best alternative" for the presidency.

Wearing his trademark floral shirt, Roco announced that former Tarlac congressman Herminio Aquino will be running as his vice president.

Villanueva, leader of the Jesus is Lord (JIL) movement that previously supported Mrs. Arroyo, also filed his candidacy, vowing to stamp out corruption.

Roco became the 40th individual to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) at 9 a.m. with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila.

The former senator earlier led supporters in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rizal monument in Manila’s Rizal Park before proceeding to the Comelec main office in Intramuros with some of his senatorial candidates and supporters.

"We want to awaken patriotism in the Filipino people," Roco said.

"Our full ticket we submit to the Filipino people as the first and best alternative in the May 2004 elections," he said.

Villanueva logged in at 2:45 p.m. as the 44th presidential candidate. There was also much fanfare as the preacher arrived at the Comelec, coming all the way from the historic Barasoain Church in Malolos City in Bulacan in a motorcade full of yellow-shirted supporters.

Villanueva, running under the new party Bangon Pilipinas, did not announce his vice presidential candidate or senatorial slate but said he is leaving it for the Filipino voters to decide.

The 57-year-old evangelist said he would rather run on his own than be beholden to any politician.

"I do not want to be beholden to any politician. I will only be beholden to God," Villanueva said.

In an earlier interview, Villanueva said his decision to run for president does not violate the constitutional dictum of separation of the Church and State. He vowed to maintain a secular government if he wins.

"Definitely I will strengthen the religious freedom of every Filipino," he said. " My running (for President) will not violate the constitutional principle."

Villanueva, however, vowed to bring God’s principle in governance which he claimed, was "kicked out" of government due to "apostasy."

"I feel that the people are desperate for change. Everybody’s sick and tired," he said.

Observers noted that among the several dozen presidential candidates claiming to have divine intervention, only Villanueva, a lawyer and former activist, appears to have the machinery and support coming from millions of JIL members.

Analysts, however, gave Villanueva a remote chance of winning against the other contenders, including Roco who has shown consistent good ratings in surveys.

To Each His Own

Political leaders, including Mrs. Arroyo, have recognized the power and influence of the religious sector in delivering the votes.

Many political leaders in the past sought the support of the JIL and the million-strong Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

During in 1998 elections, Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. of the administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas) sought the support of the JIL in his presidential bid but lost to then Vice President Joseph Estrada who had the INC’s support.

De Venecia was the presidential candidate with then Sen. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as his running mate.

Mrs. Arroyo won the vice presidency and succeeded President Joseph Estrada who was ousted in a people-backed rebellion in January 2001.

Villanueva’s joining the race was seen to deprive Mrs. Arroyo of potential votes when she seeks a full six-year term next year.

Roco, for his part, has repeatedly turned down offers by administration allies to be Mrs. Arroyo’s running mate.

Roco’s Aksyon Demokratiko party bolted from the ruling People Power Coalition (PPC) and decided to form an alternative political force with erstwhile political allies of the Arroyo administration.

Roco resigned as education secretary in August last year. The 62 year-old former senator now ranked second in a recent survey of declared presidential candidates, just ahead of Mrs. Arroyo and slightly behind front-runner, movie actor Fernando Poe Jr.

Poe, a popular movie star who is the opposition candidate, is a close buddy of Estrada.

Roco will also be running against Estrada’s former national police chief Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who filed his candidacy Monday.

"We had our proclamation on Nov. 30 dedicated to Andres Bonifacio. We file our candidacy on Dec. 30 dedicated to Gat. Jose Rizal," Roco, wearing his trademark Hawaiian shirt, told the crowd gathered at the Comelec.

The Last Minute Candidate

At the Comelec office yesterday, Roco led his senatorial candidates in filing their respective COCs.

Roco filed his candidacy along with Aquino and senatorial bets, among them former solicitor general Frank Chavez, broadcaster Jay Sonza, bowling legend Bong Coo, lawyer Melencio "Batas" Mauricio, and blind lawyer Nicanor Gatmaitan Jr.

Roco said he will announce later the remaining senatorial candidates.

However, it came as a surprise to many that Roco chose Aquino over other vice presidential bets in the coalition.

Among those who were vetted include former defense secretary Renato de Villa of Reporma and former Cebu governor Lito Osmeña of Probinsya Muna Development Initiative whose respective political parties comprise the Alyansa coalition under Roco.

Roco said he chose Aquino over other candidates as his running mate because of "experience and records."

"Now the good is upon us, I am very happy that Hermie (Aquino) has accepted," he said.

Aquino, for his part, said he was a reluctant candidate claiming that running for vice president was "the farthest from my mind."

"I was not even planing to run for any elective post. I just wanted to help Raul Roco," the former Tarlac lawmaker said.

Aquino was elected representative of the 3rd congressional district of Tarlac three times and served as vice governor of the province from 1998 to 2001.

Aquino said he was earlier offered the slot by the party coalition leaders during a meeting Monday night.

He said he thought about the offer until yesterday morning when he went to Luneta to join Roco in the wreath-laying ceremonies to honor national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, whose death anniversary was marked yesterday.

"I am not 100 percent sure until I showed up in Luneta (yesterday) morning. When I joined the march, that was it. If I did not accept, they would not put up a vice-presidential bet for today," Aquino said.

In 1998 when Roco ran and placed a strong third, his running mate was the relatively low-key Irene Santiago of Davao. - With wire reports