Chosen one

AFTER the five-day filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs), from October 12-16, the Commission on Election (Comelec) reportedly received 130 applications from Filipino presidential aspirants.
As granted by the law, these applications were accepted. However, not all these aspirants will make it to the ballot as the Comelec winnow the grain from the chaff.
When asked about the high turnout of people wanting to be the next Philippine president, Commission on Elections (Comelec) reiterated its provisions on “nuisance candidates.”
Citing the Omnibus Election Code, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told the media that the poll body has the authority to reject the COCs of individuals who make a mockery of the election system; those who seek to confuse voters through similarity of names between candidates; and those who have no bona fide or good faith in running for office.
While the filing of COCs appeared to be a circus, Malacañang said that the high turnout of presidential hopefuls “attests to the dynamism of our democracy and reflects the desire of well-meaning Filipinos to actively participate in the electoral process.”
“Come election time, we expect our bosses to exercise sound judgment in their selection of future leaders of the country,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
A presidential wannabe only needs to meet five requirements: a natural born Filipino; a registered voter; must be able to read and write; 40 years of age at the day of the election; and must have resided in the Philippines 10 years before the election is held.
From the 130 names tossed in the ring, only few will make it to the next cut. And when election time is over, one will be named the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines.
Four are expected to make it through to the deliberation process, those who have the machinery, resources and potential to launch a nationwide campaign. They are Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel Roxas II, Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), independent candidate Sen. Grace Poe and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who will be running under her People’s Reform Party.
Meeting the requirements is easy, winning the Filipinos’ approval is the hard part. Instead of working double time on increasing popularity and gaining plaudits, current leaders and those aspiring for a public post should do more groundwork and to do more for the people.
Whether wanting to be a president is wise or not, this ambition will adhere to the requirements of due process. Eventually, it is the Filipino voters who will decide if this dream can turn into reality.
Getting the job done is no cakewalk either. As defined by the Constitution, the president is the Head of State and Head of Government, and functions as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. As chief executive, the president exercises control over all the executive departments, bureaus and offices.
It is every Filipino’s undertaking  to identify these duties and responsibilities. When the winner is declared, they are expected to transcend from the latest poll results and staunch existing political mentality, and aid the next leader in utilizing them for the next six years. (AJPress)