Pamatong strikes again, files COC for president

MANILA, Philippines - “Spike boy” Elly Pamatong will again make an attempt at the presidency.

In an interview after filing yesterday his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Pamatong said he is more qualified to run for president in the 2010 polls than any other aspirant.

Pamatong had tried to join the presidential derby in 2004 but was disqualified by the Comelec for being a nuisance candidate.

“I was tortured by the Comelec. They called me a nuisance candidate,” he noted with indignation.

Pamatong added that he has done more for the Philippines than former President Joseph Estrada.

“Gibo and Noynoy can never outdo me when it comes to contributions for the country,” he claimed, referring to former Defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Sen. Benigno Aquino III, standard-bearers of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD and Liberal Party, respectively.

He urged the poll body to give him a chance to seek an elective post since he is eligible to do so.

“I scored 92 percent in the American Bar exam but I was disqualified. I’m a graduate of the University of the Philippines and Silliman University and I’m an undefeated debater in UP and yet I was declared a nuisance. What kind of Comelec is this?” he said.

In 2004, Pamatong was nabbed by the police for masterminding the scattering of steel spikes in various parts of Metro Manila, damaging the tires of more than 150 vehicles. This earned him the moniker “spike boy.”

Aside from Pamatong, 10 other hopefuls formalized yesterday their quest for the presidency by filing their COCs.

This brought to 43 the number of presidential aspirants, mostly unknown, in the 2010 polls.

One of them is 54-year-old Norberto Mercado who identified himself as a bishop and whose running mate is Sen. Mar Roxas, the vice-presidential bet of the Liberal Party.

In his prepared platform of government, Mercado said that he intends to “increase the Filipino family’s income and savings” by eliminating the expanded value-added tax and the withholding tax if he wins the presidency.

He added that he would appoint God-fearing tax collectors “for more efficient and effective tax collection.”

“It (Mercado administration) will provide incentives and rewards to honest tax collectors. It will prosecute dishonest tax collectors to the fullest extent of the law,” his platform stated.

As of yesterday, three vice-presidential aspirants and 37 senatorial hopefuls have filed their COCs with the Comelec.

The filing of COCs started last Nov. 20 and will end on Dec. 1.

Erap formalizes comeback bid

Meanwhile, former President Joseph Estrada, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and the entire United Opposition (UNO) senatorial slate will file their respective COCs before noon on Monday, Bonifacio Day, at the Comelec.

Estrada media staff Ferdie Ramos said UNO will gather first at the Liwasang Bonifacio to celebrate Bonifacio Day with a Mass at 9 a.m.

Ramos said a short program will follow where Estrada will unveil the platform of UNO while Binay will speak on good governance.

People’s Movement Against Poverty head Ronald Lumbao will read PMAP’s manifesto against poverty.     – With Jose Rodel Clapano