Comelec cited the disqualification cases filed by lawyers Ely Pamatong, Evelio Formento and Merelo Estrada as lacking in merit.

This leaves those who opposed for Estrada’s candidacy to seek the Supreme Court and decide with finality the long standing debate as to whether an elected president be allowed to run once again under certain circumstances.

Will this decision of the Comelec opens the door for Fidel Ramos to seek a reelection? Or Mrs. Arroyo runing on 2016?

For a refresher, here’s an article by Inquirer on what happened before Estrada’s ouster.

After nearly six hours of impassioned debate on Jan. 16, 2001, 11 senators voted against the opening of sealed documents that, impeachment prosecutors said, would provide the most damaging evidence against then President Joseph Estrada.

The prosecutors said the documents would prove that Estrada had amassed ill-gotten wealth worth P3.3 billion in a secret account with Equitable PCIBank.

Then Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. announced his resignation shortly after it was announced that “the nays have it.” Some of the nine other senators who voted “yes” broke into tears and hugged each other.

Read the whole article at the Inquirer.

Presidential and Senatorial candidates are grouped by their party.

Nationalista Party

President: Manny Villar
Vice President: Loren Legarda
Senators:

• Pia Cayetano
• Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos
• Ramon Mitra
• Susan Ople
• Ariel Querubin
• Gilbert Remulla
• Adel Tamano

Liberal Party

President: Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III
Vice President: Manuel “Mar” Roxas III
Senators:

• Nereus Acosta Jr.
• Ana Theresia Baraquel
• Martin Bautista
• Rozzano Ruffino Biazon
• Franklin Drilon
• Teofisto Guingona III
• Alexander Lacson
• Yasmin Lao
• Ralph Recto
• Sonia Roco

Partido ng Masang Pilipino

President: Joseph Ejercito “Erap” Estrada
Vice President: Jejomar Binay
Senators:

• JV Larion Bautista
• Joey de Venecia
• Juan Ponce Enrile
• Jinggoy Estrada
• Apolinario Lozada

Lakas-Kampi CMD

President: Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro
Vice President: Edu Manzano
Senators:

• Silvestre Bello III
• Bong Revilla
• Ramon Guico
• Raul Lambino
• Rey Langit
• Lito Lapid

Kilusang Bagong Lipunan

President: Vetellano Acosta
Vice President: Jay Sonza
Senators:

• Sharuff Ibrahim Albani
• Alma Lood
• Regalado Maambong
• Ma Judea Millora
• Imelda Papin
• Hector Villanueva

Bangon Pilipinas

President: Eddie Villanueva
Vice President: Perfecto Yasay
Senators:

• Zafrullah Alonto
• Kata Inocencio
• Ramoncito Ocampo
• Reynaldo Princesa
• Alexander Tinsay
• Israel Virgenes

Ang Kapatiran

President: John Carlos “JC” de los Reyes
Vice President: Dominador Chipeco
Senators:

• Rizalito David
• Jo Aurea Imbong
• Zosimo Paredes
• Ma. Gracia Riñoza-Plazo
• Adrian Sison
• Reginald Tamayo
• Hector Tarrazona
• Manuel Valdehuesa

Bagumbayan

President: Richard Gordon
Vice President: Bayani Fernando

People’s Reform Party

Senators:

• Mirriam Defensor Santiago

PDP Laban

Senators:

• Henry Caunan
• Gwendolyn Pimentel

Bayan Muna

Senators:

• Satur Ocampo

Nacionalist People’s Coalition

Senators:

• Rodolfo Plaza
• Vicente Sotto III

Grand Alliance for Democracy/Gabaybayan

Senators:

• Francisco Tatad

Independent

President:

• Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal

Senators:

• Liza Maza
• Sergio Osmeña III
• Jovito Palparan Jr.

Alphabetical Listing of Candidates as will appear in the official ballot.

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/research/02/14/10/comelec-list-candidates-president-vice-president-senators

Surprisingly, Aquino wasn’t satisfied with the result and even remarked that Villar’s camp fabricated the result in their favor. Even describing it as “nabibili sa Quiapo”.

Noynoy’s spokesman later clarified his statement saying that it was not the Social Weather Station that he’s talking about.

Para namang tanga ang mga nanonood at nakakapakinig kay Aquino para maniwalang hindi SWS ang kanyang pinatutungkulan. Hindi lamang umayon sa kanya ang survey ay negatibo na agad ang kanyang pananaw.

Here’s an article I read at Business World Online that talks about the same remark.

Surely, there must be something mentally dishonest about dismissing an SWS presidential poll as “nabibili sa Quiapo” after trumpeting the very same poll when it was reporting you in a commanding lead in the months earlier. Actually, the latest SWS poll — the December 27-28 one — still shows Mr. Aquino’s 44% voter base basically unchanged, but it also shows Mr. Villar’s growing to 33%, putting him within striking distance. What this confirms is that it’s really just a two-man race.

Of course, one risks getting trampled by the yellow army if one were to actually call Mr. Aquino mentally dishonest. Let’s therefore just say that his handlers — in some inexplicable lapse — simply neglected to prepare a reply for him to a foreseeable question so that he was forced to produce an answer all by himself. It probably did not occur to him that impugning the integrity of the Social Weather Stations then raises doubt about the voter support that SWS surveys also report him to have. “Nabili din kaya ’yun sa Quiapo?” is a legitimate follow-up question.

Here’s a news report from GMA 7 where they show Noynoy Aquino making the remark.

Today, Inquirer.net published the latest result of SWS survey which showed presidential candidate Manny Villar improving his ratings by 6%. Villar’s rating is now at 33%, narrowing Noynoy’s lead down to 11%.

It’s a good news for Villar’s camp and supporters as this proves that Noynoy’s wide lead is not invincible.

We might soon see a very close fight between the two leading presidential candidates as election day comes close.

Here’s an excerpt of the news from Inquirer.net

The lead of Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno Aquino III over his nearest rival, Sen. Manny Villar, of the Nacionalista Party has been narrowed to 11 percent, according to a recent Social Weather Stations survey commissioned by a Villar ally.

Aquino was the choice of 44 percent of 2,100 respondents across the country in the SWS special yearend survey conducted from Dec. 27 to 28, 2009.

Villar obtained 33 percent, narrowing the gap with Aquino to 11 percent, and improving his ratings from the 27 percent he got in the earlier Dec. 5-10 SWS survey.

The survey was privately commissioned by House Minority Leader San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, a Villar ally, and was released to Senate reporters by Villar’s office.

Read the whole news at Inquirer.net.

Susan “Toots” Ople is the youngest daughter of the late Senator Blas Ople. Though her father already passed away, the virtue of humbleness and servanthood has been passed to his family especially to her who continued her father’s commitment of helping OFWs.

Recently, Susan Ople was convinced to run as senator under the banner of Senator Manny Villar’s Nacionalista Party. Hoping to win a seat in the magic 12 though like Sonia Roco, was trailing behind as shown by the recent surveys by Pulse Asia and SWS.

Before the end of last year, I was invited to attend a meeting with well known bloggers and Susan as the invited guest. I got the chance to hear some of her motives, ideologogies and desires of running as senator.

Here’s a video I shoot while Susan explains on how the government could improve employment for the filipino workers.

One of the topic being raised in the then pRO Chaos Board was about Sonia Roco. Topic was created by one of my good member, Briar Rose, who wanted to ask everyone on why they should consider Sonia Roco. Most members participated in the discussion and expressed favorably towards Sonia.

Here’s what she wrote about Sonia Roco.

Awright kiddos, let’s talk!

I was quite cynical and my brows rose when I heard that Sonia Roco, wife of the late Sen. Raul Roco was planning to run in the 2007 Senatorial Elections. And now, according to my observations, it seems that Sonia is well-liked by the online populace when the truth is, nobody knew of her (close to being intangible ) aside from the fact that she is Raul Roco’s wife.

I have several questions to those people who voted for her (in this thread)…

If you will compare her to the other candidates; how can you say that she is much worthy of your sacred vote? Are you even aware about her political platforms and her motives for running? :blink:

Also, she is from the Ateneo and led the list of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines way back in the year 1964; which means that, Sonia is very smart but that doesn’t equal to being a good Senator, right?  To sum it all up, Sonia has better credentials than other candidates but she lacks experience in the political scene and has yet to prove her capacity and competence — fine! No problem with that. But do you think that she’s in the right party? Do you think that the opposition is only using her and might give her a bad impression in the future? I doubt it if Erap knows Sonia before her bid to the Senate this year… :rolleyes:

Okay, let’s us say she’s a good person – a wife, a mother, simple, down to earth, etc. So, aside from those qualities mentioned above, kindly give us some deeper reasons why should we vote for her. Let’s not forget that many Filipinos have this long-running belief that intelligence is somewhat marriage-transmittable (like what happened to Ninoy-Corey) but still, they are two different individuals and being the wife of a late Senator doesn’t necessarily mean that she can automatically be a Senator or a good Senator as well…so, don’t ever answer me that.

Let’s empower ourselves, okay? Para hindi tayo tata*nga-t*nga at boto lang ng boto.

Follow the discussion at pRO Chaos Board

Comelect chairman Jose Melo said that they approved the candidacies of the following to run for President:

• Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party (LP)
• Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan
• Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal who is running as independent
• Manny Villar of Nacionalista Party (NP)
• Ex-defense chief Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro who is running under Lakas-Kampi-CMD
• Former president Joseph Ejercito “Erap” Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP)
• Evangelist Eddie Villanueva
• Olongapo city councilor John Carlos “JC” Delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran Party

Melo said that as of the moment, Estrada may run his campaign until they decide on the merit of  petition to disqualify him.

For vice president, eight qualified candidates has made it to the list:

• Senators Manuel “Mar” Roxas III of LP
• Loren Legarda of NP
• Former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando under Bagumbayan
• Actor Edu Manzano of Lakas-Kampi CMD
• Makati city Mayor Jejomar Binay of PMP
• Former Security and Exchange Commission chairman Perfecto Yasay of Bangon Pilipinas
• Television news anchor Jay Sonza of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan
• Dominador Chipeco of Ang Kapatiran

And here’s the official list of senatorial candidates:

Senatorial candidates

For senator, the Comelec approved 58 out of 158 bets, namely:

1. Nereus Acosta Jr. – LP
2. Sharuff Ibrahim Albani – KBL
3. Zafrullah Alonto – Bangon Pilipinas
4. Ana Theresia Baraquel – LP
5. JV Larion Bautista – PMP
6. Martin Bautista – LP
7. Silvestre Bello III – Lakas-Kampi-CMD
8. Rozzano Rufino Biazon – LP
9. Bong Revilla – Lakas-Kampi-CMD
10. Henry Caunan – PDP-Laban
11. Pia Cayetano – NP
12. Rizalito David – Ang Kapatiran
13. Joey De Venecia – PMP
14. Miriam Defensor Santiago – People’s Reform Party
15. Franklin Drilon – LP
16. Juan Ponce Enrile – PMP
17. Jinggoy Estrada – PMP
18. Ramon Guico – Lakas-Kampi-CMD
19. Teofisto Guingona III – LP
20. Jo Aurea Imbong – Ang Kapatiran
21. Kata Inocencio – Bangon Pilipinas
22. Alexander Lacson – LP
23. Raul Lambino – Lakas-Kampi-CMD
24. Rey Langit – Lakas-Kampi-CMD
25. Yasmin Lao – LP
26. Lito Lapid – Lakas-Kampi-CMD
27. Alma Lood – KBL
28. Apolinario Lozada – PMP
29. Regalado Maambong – KBL
30. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr – NP
31. Liza Maza – Independent
32. Ma Judea Millora – KBL
33. Ramon Mitra – NP
34. Ramoncito Ocampo – Bangon Pilipinas
35. Satur Ocampo – Bayan Muna Party
36. Susan Ople – NP
37. Sergio Osmeña III – Independent
38. Jovito Palparan Jr. – Independent
39. Imelda Papin – KBL
40. Zosimo Paredes – Ang Kapatiran
41. Gwendolyn Pimentel – PDP Laban
42. Rodolfo Plaza – NPC
43. Reynaldo Princesa – Bangon Pilipinas
44. Ariel Querubin – NP
45. Ralph Recto – LP
46. Gilbert Remulla – NP
47. Ma. Gracia Riñoza-Plazo – Ang Kapatiran
48. Sonia Roco – LP
49. Adrian Sison – Ang Kapatiran
50. Vicente Sotto III – NPC
51. Adel Tamano – NP
52. Reginald Tamayo – Ang Kapatiran
53. Hector Tarrazona – Ang Kapatiran
54. Francisco Tatad – Grand Alliance For Democracy/Gabaybayan
55. Alexander Tinsay – Bangon Pilipinas
56. Manuel Valdehuesa Jr. – Ang Kapatiran
57. Hector Villanueva – KBL
58. Israel Virgines – Bangon Pilipinas

I noticed that Sonia Roco was running once more but for senatorial seat. She once tried to run as senator last 2007 election but loose. I do hope she made it now. Her husband, the late senator Raul Roco, is a great senator.