First Day Of Filing Draws 20 Presidential Candidates For Philippines' May 2010 Election

November 20, 2009 8:18 a.m. EST

Manila, Philippines - (AHN) - Twenty people registered on Friday as presidential candidates with the Commission on Elections for the Philippines' May 2010 election. Another three people filed certificates of candidacy for senator.

However, the Comelec accepted the applications of only 14 presidential aspirants. The only prominent filer among the 14 was lawyer Oliver Lozano, representing the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement), which was established by former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The other filers include a businessman, a returning Overseas Filipino Worker, a financial consultant, a teacher and a quantum physics teacher. Many of them are subsequently declared by the Comelec as nuisance candidates and eventually disqualified.

The candidates of the major political parties such as the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Liberal Party and Nacionalista Party are expected to file their certificates next week.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento reminded those who have filed their certificates of candidacy that they are now covered by the country's law on premature campaigning. He advised them to remove their streamers and tarpaulins in public places until the official campaign period starts.