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Manila Bulletin

Philippines

Father of 13 vies for presidency, vows to bring back gov't to people

Philippines

Father of 13 vies for presidency, vows to bring back gov't to people

By Jel Santos

Unlike other presidential aspirants, Renato Jose Valera has no track record to brag as he, in his own words, is “just an ordinary Filipino” who wants to become the father of the nation.

Renato Jose Valera (Comelec Facebook Live Screenshot)

On Monday, Oct.4, Valera who was just wearing a simple white polo shirt and denim pants filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for president at the Sofitel Tent in Pasay City

For him, the only “track record” he can boast is that he is a loving father to his 13 children and only has one wife.

“Narito ako, tumatakbo bilang presidente. Ako ay isang ordinaryong mamamayang Pilipino. Wala akong maipagmamalaki na track record, pero ang mapagmamalaki ko lang ay malaki ang aking pamilya, 13 ang aking mga anak sa iisang asawa (I am here, running for president. I am just an ordinary Filipino citizen. I don’t have a track record to brag, but the only thing I’m proud of is my big family, I fathered 13 children with only one woman—my wife),” Valera said in his speech after filing his COC.

Tumatakbo ako bilang presidente dahil nais kong maging ama ng sambayanang Pilipino. Bilang ama, hinahangad ko ang ikakabuti ng aking mga anak. Tulad ng pagpapalaki ko sa mga anak ko (I am running for president because I want to be the father of the nation. As a father, I only want the best for my children. I will take care of the Filipinos just as how I raised my children),” he said.

Valera vowed to bring back the government to the people, saying that he will create a plebiscite in 2025 which will coincide with the local election.

“Ako ay nanggaling sa ordinaryong tao, hindi ko tatalikuran ang mga ordinaryong tao (I came from ordinary people, I will never turn my back on them),” he ended.

Related Tags

FATHER OF 13 RENATO VALERA ORDINARY FILIPINO democracy Comelec FOR PRESIDENCY COC filing

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