- Title: PHILIPPINES: FILIPINOES GEAR UP FOR ANOTHER CHAOTIC NATIONAL ELECTION
- Date: 21st January 2003
- Summary: (W3) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JANUARY 21, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV OF ELLY PAMATONG, A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DISQUALIFIED BY ELECTIONS COMMISSION ARRIVING/PAMATONG PUTTING ON HANDCUFFS TO STEEL GATES OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION BUILDING 0.21 2. SV PAMATONG SUPPORTERS WAVING MINIATURE AMERICAN FLAGS WHILE CHANTING HIS NAME "PA-MA-TONG" 0.26 3. SV ELECTION BUILDING/PEOPLE WITH AMERICAN FLAGS (2 SHOTS) 0.36 4. MCU (English) PAMATONG SAYING: "The COMELEC (Commission on Elections), without giving me a chance my financial capability, has excluded me only because I am Mindanaoan. So again, if I cannot join these elections, I will lead a revolution and return to Mindanao and destroy this corrupt government." 0.53 5. SV OF POLICE PUSHING PAMATONG'S SUPPORTERS AWAY FROM THE ELECTION COMMISSION BUILDING 0.57 6. CU/SV POLICE APPROACHES PAMATONG TO ASK HIM TO REMOVE HIS HANDCUFFS (2 SHOTS) 1.18 7. SV SUPPORTERS CHANTING WHILE LEAVING (2 SHOTS) 1.28 8. LV OF FERNANDO POE JR. WITH PHILIPPINE BUSINESSMEN 1.32 9. MCU (English) MOVIE ACTOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FERNANDO POE JR. SAYING: "I would like all of you to know, that I am a Filipino." 1.39 10. SV TO PHOTOGRAPHERS 1.42 11. MCU POE AND BUSINESS CLUB PRESIDENT 1.48 12. PAN OF MEETING 1.57 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 5th February 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Reuters ID: LVAC3XX7Z5IIP8N37G6O8IY12P63
- Story Text: Filipinos gear up for another chaotic national
election with nuisance candidates being disqualified and
citizenship being questioned.
Pro-American lawyer Elly Pamatong marched to the
Commission on Elections building in Manila with dozens of
supporters on Wednesday (January 21) morning.
While supporters chanted his name and waved miniature
American flags, Pamatong handcuffed himself to a steel gate
in protest at the commission's decision to disqualify him.
"The COMELEC (Commission on Elections) without giving
me a chance to prove my financial capability, has excluded
me only because I am Mindanaoan. So again, if I cannot join
these elections, I will lead a revolution and return to
Mindanao and destroy this corrupt government," Pamatong
said.
Pamatong is a familiar figure in the local media,
having led several pro-US demonstrations in Manila.
He is also the lawyer of detained Muslim secessionist
leader Nur Misuari.
When he filed his candidacy two weeks ago, he vowed to
give every Filipino a U.S. visa if elected.
Pamatong said this promise was included in his platform
of government.
Election officials have disqualified 79 candidates out
of the 84 who registered for the presidential contest,
leaving the field to incumbent President Gloria Arroyo and
five challengers.
Analysts see a two-way race between President Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo and opposition candidate Fernando Poe Jr,
a popular film star and pal of ousted leader Joseph
Estrada.
But Poe's citizenship has raised questions on his
eligibility to run for the presidency.
There is no argument that Poe's mother was an American
but the citizenship of his father -- Spanish or Filipino --
and the legitimacy of their marriage will determine whether
the actor will be allowed to stand in the election on May
10.
Presidential candidates must be Filipino nationals,
over the age of 40 and able to read and write.
In a meeting with Philippine businessmen, Poe said he
was a Filipino.
"I want all of you to know, I am a Filipino."
Poe, or FPJ as he is known, is a household name in the
Philippines for beating up the bad guys in movies since the
1950s and has charged ahead in opinion polls without any
record in politics.
Despite his close friendship with deposed president
Joseph Estrada, Poe insists he is his own man as his
campaign team markets him as a force for national unity and
positive change.
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