BOPK PROCLAMATION/OCT. 12, 2015: Bando Osmeña Pondok Kauswagon (BOPK) councilorial candidates Allan”Goliat Nacorda (right) and Vic Buendia (left) loot up to their party mate 6’10 former PBA player Bonel Balingit during the proclamation of the BOPK complete slate headed by mayoralty candidate Tomas Osmeñain St. Pedro Calungsod Chapel at the South Road Properties.(CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
Retired court worker, 68, runs for council for first time: ‘Cebu City voters are intelligent’
Offices weren’t open yet when 68-year-old Romeo Capangpangan showed up at 7:30 a.m.at the Cebu City office of the Commission on Elections.
The former social worker was the first to file his certificate of candidacy for a seat in the City Council for the south district.
It’s his first time to run for office.
As a retiree and an independent with scarce resources , he said he knew he was no match for the logistics of established political parties.
But voters in Cebu City are “intelligent voters”, said Capangpangan of Sun Valley Subdivision who wants to lobby for the establishment of senior citizens centers, where the elderly can go for coffee, recreational activities and free medicine.
“Nanghinaut ko nga mopili ang mga tawo sa kandidato nga dunay capability to serve. It’s not only about being a member of a party. Hopefully, voters choose candidates who can do good for the people,” he said.
Capangpangan, who finished a law degree, last worked in the Cebu Regional Trial Court, where he headed the social services division of the family court.
He was recognized at the Comelec office by the Cebu City Election officer Michael Sarno, his classmate in law school.
ORDINARY PEOPLE
That ordinary people with good intentions can file a Certificate of Candidacy was just one example of the liberal democracy that underpins Philippine elections.
Then there are repeat candidates.
At about 10 a.m., a 65-year-old former construction worker who was defeated in at least seven elections, filed his COC for the eighth time as an aspiring congressman in Cebu City’s north district.
Juan Arenasa of Mabolo vowed to use his salary as congressman to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless.
He’s been a balut vendor and barangay tanod manning traffic on M.J. Cuenco Avenue.
Arenasa said he’s also worked as a security guard for the Gaisano and Limtong families, as well as Mabolo Elementary School.
Arenasa said he’s not afraid to go up against reelectionist Rep. Raul del Mar or vie for office against former mayor Alvin Garcia of Team Rama.
NUISANCE BETS
The filing of COCs from Oct. 12 to 16 is not a final declaration of candidates, just a period to allow the Comelec time to print the right names on the ballot for May 2016.
The documents will still be reviewed for corrections and possible disqualification of candidates by Comelec, which will check requirements such as residence, age, and duplication of names or a serious challenge of being a “nuisance” bet.
Sarno, Cebu city election officer, said only the Comelec head office in Manila could declare a nuisance candidate based on a formal complaint.
“That usually happens for candidates who have the same or similar names as a serious candidate, who feels threatened .”
In the case of Arenasa, he said, there’s none.
“Anyone can file a COC, whether he has a political party or not. We will receive it. Our work is ministerial . As long as the forms are complete and properly filled up, we will receive it,” said Sarno.
He said the Comelec could decide motu propio or on its own that a candidate is a nuisance but this is for a candidate who is the subject of a complaint.
“There are a only a few cases like that in the local level unlike positions for president or other national position where there are many complaints filed to declare candidates a nuisance,” he said.
There’s no fixed deadline to file for that.
“What’s important is that before ballots are printed, their names are not included, possibly until December. In fact substitution of candidates is allowed until Dec. 10 for grounds of withdrawal of a COC so that the wrong name won’t appear in the ballot,” said Sarno. ‘
FILE EARLY
Sarno advised aspirants not to wait until the deadline on Friday.
The advantage of filing early is that there’s time to correct any errors on the applicant’s CÖC.
For example, one time a politician running for barangay captain filled up the form for a city councilor.
Comelec offices have suspended the registration of voters this week to focus on receiving COCs.
Registration will resume on Saturday, October 17 with longer work hours.
Comelec offices will then stay open with longer office hours, 12 hours a day every day of the week, including holidays, until October 31 to accommodate the public.
The first early bird in the Cebu City Comelec, Capangpangan, filed his papers at 8:14 a.m.
He said he went to the Comelec early to avoid any hassle and so that he can start preparing for a campaign that appeals to senior citizens like himself.
He said he wanted to have Senior Citizen Centers put up like those in America where elderly persons can go for coffee and bread with recreational activities.
He also envisions a Botica for Senior Citizens with free medicine shouldered by Philhealth.
Capangpangan worked in government for almost 35 years as a public school teacher in the Daanbantayan National High School, then as a social worker of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
He finished law school in Cebu City although he didn’t take the bar exams.
He retired as head of the Social Services and Counseling Division in the family court of the Cebu City Regional Trial Court.
In Mandaue City, Edgar Cortes, a 67-year-old from barangay Banilad, filed his COC as an independent running for a seat in the City Council.
In Toledo City, two independent candidates also declared their bids as councilors.
They are former Toledo City Councilor Teresito Largo, 51, a lawyer from barangay Cabitoonan and Cerenia Apurado, 51, a businesswoman from barangay Dumlog.
As of 5 p.m., no COCs were filed in the Comelec offices of Lapu-Lapu, Talisay, Carcar, Danao and Bogo cities.