Gordon, Fernando file COCs for president, vice president

MANILA, Philippines - Banking on their backgrounds as mayors of Olongapo and Marikina City, Sen. Richard Gordon and former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando joined the bandwagon of those seeking the country’s two highest elective posts. 

Fernando reached out to Gordon a few weeks ago to run as his (Fernando’s) vice president, but he was instead convinced to slide down and run under the Bagumbayan platform.

Fernando said he was giving way to a more senior and experienced colleague.

Gordon explained that his team up with Fernando is very formidable because they are banking on their vast experience as local executives, bringing progress to their constituents through political will.

“You go to Marikina you go to Subic, you will see the development we have implemented. The people believe in character, not in pera-cter. Others say money is enough to have leadership, that is wrong,” he said.

“Leadership is not a birthright, leadership is not a title,” he added.

Gordon announced that he will run for president under the Bagumbayan-Volunteers for a New Philippines (VNP) party.

“Bayani and I are to file our candidacy for president and vice president. We are not here to get a title but to transform the nation. You can now call us as the Transformers,” Gordon said in a press conference before proceeding to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila.

Their wives, former Olongapo City mayor Kate Gordon and Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando, accompanied the two aspirants. They are not fielding any senatorial ticket but they claim to have local candidates.

“The time has come for action and results. This is a partnership of proven change, transformers of hearts and minds, builders of character and communities for a better Philippines. The future of our country is in our hands. Together, we can build a Bagumbayan,” he said.

Gordon and Fernando filed their COCs at the Comelec office after a wreath-laying ceremony at the monuments of Lapu-Lapu and Jose Rizal, the inspirations of the Bagumbayan-VNP party, at Bagumbayan (Rizal Park) in Manila.

“The challenge we face now is a result not of lack of great ideas or lack of policies in government but the lack of focus. This is accompanied by the pettiness in politics and the propensity to focus on trivial (matters),” Gordon said.

He lamented that while the Philippines gains international recognition because of the likes of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, recently awarded CNN Hero Efren Peñaflorida and singer Charice Pempengco, the country has failed as a nation.

Gordon stressed that the electorate should look at the track record of the candidates and study what they are consistently doing in their communities.

Fernando, on the other hand, vowed to return to his former agency’s Makati City headquarters as the next vice president of the Republic.

“I will come back here. But I won’t be back as chairman. I will return here as vice president,” he told MMDA employees at the formal turnover of the agency’s leadership to its new boss, former Quezon City Judge Oscar Inocentes, before proceeding to the Comelec.

Fernando apologized to his supporters for falling short in his aspiration to become the president of the land.

Other aspirants for different positions who beat the deadline for the filing of COCs include Sen. Jamby Madrigal, who will seek the presidency without a running mate and a senatorial lineup.

Madrigal said she decided to run as an independent to give everyone seeking genuine reforms a chance to become part of her administration.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, jukebox queen Imelda Papin of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) and former Comelec commissioner Amado Calderon, independent, also formalized their intention to run for senator by filing their respective COCs.

Broadcaster Jay Sonza has also lodged his COC to run for vice president under KBL.   – With Mike Frialde, Sheila Crisostomo