 | |
| Campaign | 2004 Philippine presidential election |
|---|---|
| Candidate |
|
| Affiliation | |
| Status | Official launch: December 2003 Lost election counting: May 24, 2004 |
| Key people | Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan (campaign manager)[1] |
| Slogan(s) | Ang bagong Pilipinas Pag-asa ng bagong Pilipinas |
| Chant | Roco! |
The 2004 presidential campaign of Raul Roco was launched when he filed his certificate of candidacy on December 30, 2003. This was Roco's second attempt to run for the presidency, having previously ran in the 1998 presidential election.
Pre-election
By mid-2003, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was poised to run for president in 2004 elections.[2] Raul Roco was offered by Arroyo to be his running mate, but he declined,[3] and insisted her to run as his vice president instead.[4]
In selecting a running-mate, after calling out Arroyo, Roco had also considered former Cebu governor Lito Osmeña, Senators Noli de Castro, Loren Legarda and Manny Villar, and Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando as his running mate. However, by November 30, 2003, he selected former Tarlac Vice Governor Hermie Aquino as his running mate.[5]
He also revealed the party's Agenda of Hope on December 1, 2003.[6]
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Senate slate
During the December 1 convention, Aksyon had considered 19 personalities for their senatorial ticket:
- 1998 presidential candidate Rene de Villa,
- former DOTC secretaries Josie Lichauco and Oscar Orbos,
- then-incumbent Senator Rodolfo Biazon,
- former Pasay congresswoman Lorna Verano-Yap,
- former agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor,
- police Chief Superintendent Romeo Maganto,
- former assemblyman Emil Ong,
- former solicitor general Frank Chavez,
- bowling champion Bong Coo,
- retired Gen. Rodolfo Gutang,
- Lanao del Sur congressman Dimaporo Ramos,
- Sulu congressman Arden Anni,
- Misamis Oriental Congressman Oscar Moreno,
- economist and 2001 senatorial candidate Winnie Monsod,
- broadcasters Pia Cayetano, Jay Sonza and Melanio "Batas" Mauricio,
- and Christy Ramos, daughter of former President Fidel Ramos.[6]
Roco's Aksyon forged an alliance with de Villa's Partido Reporma, and Lito Osmeña's PROMDI to form their Alyansa ng Pag-asa slate.[7] However, the final senate slate was reduced into only, seven with Coo,[8] blind lawyer Nicanor Gatmaytan Jr.[9], Nueva Ecija politician Eduardo Nonato Joson, Mauricio, Sonza, and former bureaucrat Perfecto Yasay selected in the slate, along with the inclusion of Chavez from Reporma.[10]
The slate was nicknamed JC JC GaBaY, with J for Jay Sonza, C for Chavez, J for Joson, C for Coo, Ga for Gatmaytan, Ba for Batas Mauricio, and Y for Yasay.[11]
| Name | Party | Occupation | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Francisco Chavez | Reporma | Former Solicitor General |  |
| Bong Coo | Aksyon | Former athlete | |
| Nicanor Gatmaytan Jr. | Aksyon | Lawyer | |
| Eduardo Nonato Joson | Aksyon | Former Governor of Nueva Ecija | |
| Melanio "Batas" Mauricio | Aksyon | Lawyer/TV personality | |
| Jay Sonza | Aksyon | TV personality | |
| Perfecto Yasay | Aksyon | Former bureaucrat | |
Surveys and alliance support
Roco performed second to third in surveys, but due to his prostate cancer, he had to go overseas for treatment, affecting his campaign and survey showings. Unfortunately for him and the party, some of the supporters left his campaign, and insisted that he will not back out from the presidential race.[10][12] The party had also feared vote-buying initiated by President Arroyo's Lakas–CMD.[13]
Result
Roco and the whole Alyansa slate lost the election, but he later called out Arroyo about her controversial election victory.[14][15]
In August 2005, Roco died at the age of 63, succumbing to his prostate cancer.[16]
References
- Crisostomo, Sheila (February 11, 2004). "Roco prays for blessings". Philstar.com. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
- Conde, Carlos H. (October 6, 2003). "Arroyo is poised to run in 2004". The New York Times.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (October 4, 2003). "Roco rejects offer to be Arroyo's running mate". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (December 18, 2003). "Roco urges GMA to abandon bid". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (November 2, 2003). "Roco to name running mate on Nov. 30". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (December 1, 2003). "Roco: Let us restore hope, pride in Pinoys". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (November 25, 2003). "New alliance boosts Roco's 2004 poll bid". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (February 11, 2004). "Roco prays for blessings". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- Pecho, Ernie. "Kaso ni Nora at Joko,naipanalo ng bulag na abogado". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
- Crisostomo, Sheila; Araneta, Sandy (April 29, 2004). "Roco not backing out of race". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- Dann Garcia (May 2, 2024). Sugod sa Bagong Pilipinas - Raul Roco. Retrieved November 24, 2024 – via YouTube.
- "Roco balik na,pero alyansa basag na". Philstar.com. April 29, 2004. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (April 23, 2004). "Alyansa fears massive vote-buying". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (May 3, 2004). "'Bong' votes should go to Coo, not Revilla'". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (May 18, 2004). "Roco concedes to GMA". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- Crisostomo, Sheila (August 6, 2005). "Roco succumbs to cancer; 63". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.