The second day of the filing of certificates of candidacy began just like the first: With a guest candidate submitting documents with little fanfare.
Senator Francis Escudero formalized his bid for reelection Tuesday morning without members of the United Nationalist Alliance or the administration Liberal Party-led coalition in tow. Escudero has been named a guest candidate in both the UNA and administration slates.
Neither was actress Heart Evangelista, whom Escudero is exclusively dating, at the Commission on Elections main office on Tuesday.
He said Evangelista might be resting from television tapings.
Escudero left soon after filing, but said he would file a bill to repeal the provision in the Cybercrime Prevention Act imposing a criminal penalty on online libel.
On Monday, Senator Aquilino Pimentel III--a guest candidate for the administration coalition--also went to the Comelec office by himself.
The members of the LP ticket had yet to be proclaimed that morning and he rushed to the proclamation after filing.
Former Las Pinas representative Cynthia Villar, who is also running under the administration slate, was welcomed with more flair.
Her supporters, dressed in the trademark Villar orange, welcomed her on the steps of Manila Cathedral as festive drum beats roared in the background.
The actual filing was more simple, however, with only husband Senator Manuel Villar Jr. and son Las Pinas Representative Mark Villar accompanying her inside the Comelec office. TV host Willie Revillame was also there to show support but refused to be interviewed.
She told reporters that her experience as a member of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2010, where she worked on legislation concerning "children, families, and women", qualify her for higher office.
Senator Villar said that "relative to other candidates, maganda ang track record niya," adding he has been consulting her during his term as senator. He said, however, that Mrs. Villar will not simply be continuing his programs if she wins. "May sarili siya, kaunti lang yung sa akin (sa programa)," he said.
Mrs. Villar said she supports passage of the Freedom of Information bill and the Sin Tax, although she said she has yet to study the specifics of it. She said she supports it as a source of revenue for the government. "The only thing (that needs ) debate is the rate," she said.
Between Escudero and Mrs. Villar, a certain Valeriano Nocon III, who said he was a composer, also filed his candidacy papers.
Among his campaign promises: "Lahat ng evil tatapusin ko. Papatayin ko lahat ng spirit na masama."
Even while Juan Miguel Zubiri failed to make it to the magic 12 of the Senate race, the 14th placer aspirant didn’t skip the eyes of netizens following his alleged statement on criminalizing HIV-AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immuno-deficiency Syndrome) once he becomes senator. …
