13 aspirants to RP's top posts: No to guns, goons, and gold

In an unprecedented group pledge Sunday morning, the country’s presidential and vice presidential aspirants sought to inject hope in an election process marked by an untested automated system and widespread fears of cheating. Thirteen hopefuls for the 2010 elections pledged to ensure clean and honest polls and vowed never to use public office for personal gain if they are elected. They took the oath during GMA-7's "Eleksyon 2010: Tatakbo Ka Ba?" fun run for a clean and honest elections held at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, which was broadcast live on television and via livestream on GMANews.TV.

Those who took the oath before Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Jose Melo were former President Joseph Estrada, Senators Manuel Roxas II, Manuel Villar Jr., Francis Pangilinan, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, Richard Gordon, and Jamby Madrigal. Also taking their oaths were Jesus is Lord Movement leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, and Ang Kapatiran party's JC delos Reyes. "Hindi ako gagamit ng salapi sa maling paraan o ng armas at anumang uri ng dahas para masiguro and pagkapanalo ko sa eleksyon (I will not use funds in the wrong way nor use firearms or any other form of violence to ensure victory in the elections)," read part of the prepared oath, which the 13 signed before Melo, National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) head Henrietta de Villa, and Philippine Bar Association chair Federico Agcaoili. The oath also read, "Hindi ko gagamitin ang kaban ng bayan o anumang pag-aari ng Pilipinas para sa aking personal na interes (I will not use public funds or any other property of the Philippines for my personal interest)." Those "perceived candidates" who did not attend the event were Vice President Noli de Castro, who was on an official trip to China; Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who relayed that they were both ill; Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio, who informed the network that he was preoccupied with the vote recount in his province; Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, who was in Belgium; and Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III, who said he is "still undecided" on whether to run in next year's elections. "We hope to awaken the consciousness of our people on how important electing the right people to public offices is," said Felipe L. Gozon, president, chairman, and chief executive officer of GMA Network. "Elections are a very serious matter." Gozon added that he was "more than satisfied" with the turnout of the event. After taking their oath before Comelec chair Melo, representatives of some of the country's leading civic groups, media and election watchdogs, and a live television audience of millions, the hopefuls affixed their signatures to their written pledges. "Puwede nating singilin ang mga tatakbo sa kanilang sinumpaan. This is our collective challenge to aspirants to do what's right," said Marissa Flores, GMA Network's senior vice president for news and public affairs. Aside from the political personalities' oath-taking, 5,000 people participated in the fun run that took place beforehand. Dubbed “Eleksyon 2010 na, Tatakbo Ka Ba? – Hamon Para sa Kaayusan ng Pilipinas," the one-day fun run kicked off GMA Network's awareness campaign to promote clean and honest polls in 2010. with reports from Sophia Dedace and Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV