Mark Jimenez also running for president

MANILA, Philippines - Controversial former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez declared yesterday his intention to run for president in the May 2010 elections.

Jimenez said he would run as an independent but offered other presidential candidates “to unify and come up with agenda to make the Philippines a better place to live in.”

He said he would file his certificate of candidacy (COC) today before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Jimenez, who was unseated as member of the House of Representatives for lack of residency, said he would run under the platform of human rights as he promoted his Hulog ng Langit Foundation, which he said has been instrumental for him to help the poor.

“My approach to new human rights is that when there are floods, the government must provide support and tools and without those, you are violating their human rights,” Jimenez told reporters in a press conference. “The solution is increase revenues and spend them wisely. Tax the rich.”

He criticized other presidential candidates – former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., Sen. Manny Villar, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and former president Joseph Estrada – for not talking about how they pay their taxes and the contracts they enter with the government and how they spent their Statement of Assets Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

Meanwhile, Sen. Jamby Madrigal has also decided to pursue her bid for the presidency, her office said yesterday.

Madrigal’s office said the senator would file her COC with the Comelec at 7:30 a.m. today.

She will run as an independent and has no running mate, senatorial or local line up.

Madrigal announced her intention to run for president last July 31 after a retreat in India.

The camp of Sen. Richard Gordon, on the other hand, disclosed yesterday that he would run for president with Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando as running mate.

Gordon said over radio station dzBB that he would announce his decision today, the last day of filing for COC.

Sources said Gordon and Fernando confirmed their team up after several talks in Makati City, where the wake of Gordon’s mother was held, and in Olongapo City.

“There were several meetings and they agreed to just run together,” the sources said.

In the radio interview, Gordon said “we’re still deciding” and that he was not afraid to run, win or lose.   – With Aurea Calica