04 Jan 2010 |
| ||||||
By Veronica Uy, Inquirer.net (04-Jan-2010) MANILA, Philippines—A Saudi-based overseas Filipino worker whose senatorial bid was rejected by the Commission on Elections has asked the poll body to reconsider its decision. Nhazrudin “Rudy” N.D. Dianalan flew home last week to file a supplemental opposition to Comelec Resolution 8713 promulgated December 15, 2009. He met with INQUIRER.net, whom he provided a copy of his motion. Dianalan said he possesses all the qualifications required by the Constitution to run for senator, and not any of the disqualifications set by the Constitution as to the minimum age or minimum residency. In his motion, he noted that he is a natural-born Filipino and at least 35 years old. He graduated from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Mineral with the degree of BS Systems Engineer as cum laude, and now a candidate for a master’s degree in national security administration. Working most of his life in Jeddah, he is now chief systems engineer of an international airline. A Maranao, Dianalan added that his father Omar Dianalan was an undefeated mayor of Marawi City who died while serving as congressman of the province. The poll body does not have evidence that his candidacy would put the election process in mockery or disrepute, he said. As for capacity to wage a nationwide campaign, he said he has enough money contributed by fellow OFWs in Saudi “for modest print, television, radio, and Internet advertisements to penetrate the homes across the nation and the rest of the world.” He also criticized the poll body for putting financial capability as a requirement for one’s candidacy.“The fact that since time immemorial the Commission has been requiring financial capability of a candidate in order to be considered as one who cannot put the election in mockery or disrepute brings out a wrong message if the society wants good governance,” he said in his motion. He said this encourages public servants to become corrupt.Dianalan said similar to United States President Barack Obama’s, his campaign would take advantage of the Internet. He said he would use the free services of Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Ning, Youtube, Multiply, and other Internet sites to reach the estimated 30 percent of the Filipinos (about 24 million) who have Web access. He said he is supported by many OFW groups in Saudi, including Kasapi, the umbrella organization of at least 23 community groups of Filipinos in Jeddah. “While most of (the 5,000 Kasapi) members cannot vote (as) their places of work did not offer an opportunity for them to register as absentee voters…they have instructed their respective dependents to deliver the message of Dianalan as the only candidate representing the voice of overseas workers,” his motion said. “These workers bank on their being breadwinners as enough reason to expect that their beneficiaries would follow their requests to campaign for Dianalan,” it added. Dianalan said Kasapi represents the major regional groups in the Philippines: the Ilonggos, the Cebuanos, the Boholanos, the Ilocanos, the Bicolanos, the Warays, the Capampangans, the Maranaos, the Maguindanaos, the Tausugs, the Tagalogs, the Cordillera tribesmen. “All these members and the OFWs in Saudi Arabia has pledged to contribute a minimum of one dollar each for (his) campaign. And if he can muster donations from only 10 percent of the OFWs, he would get a campaign donation of one million dollars, equivalent to P45 million,” his motion said. The donation solicitation campaign will soon be launched through the Internet similar to Obama’s campaign, he said. Dianalan said his platform centers on bettering the well-being of OFWs and their families. |
