MANILA, Philippines – He seemed shy and hesitant at first, but as soon as 61-year-old Romeo Plasquita got his bearings, the words came out easily.

“Sa bayan namin, sinabihan akong ayaw pagtakbo ng presidente kasi hindi ako bagay magpresidente. Wala akong salapi, wala akong personality, ‘tsaka wala akong pera. Pero sasabihan ko lang sa mga kasamahan kong kapulisan, kasi ako, retired police, 5 years na akong hindi nakatanggap ng aking retirement pay,” he said to reporters on Tuesday, October 13, moments after he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) to run for president.

(Back in my hometown, I am told not to run for president because I’m not suited to be president. I don’t have the money, the personality, or the funds, but I just want to tell my colleagues in the police force that I, as a retired police personnel, have not received my retirement pay in 5 years.)

Plasquita is one of the presidential aspirants who have filed a COC before the Commission on Elections, numbering 50 as of Wednesday, October 14, the 3rd day of filing of COCS.

Of the number, only one – Vice President Jejomar Binay – is considered a “mainstream” candidate or one with the party, funds, and machinery to back him up.

Speaking in a mix of his native Waray, English, and Filipino, Plasquita said he doesn’t care if he doesn’t have the money, upsets those in the police force, or gets death threats. His platform is “Tuwid na Daan (Straight Path)” for the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Pasquita, speaking to media in Intramuros, Manila, went on to talk about the “abundance of corruption” in the PNP, which he claims he’s a victim of.

“Merong banta sa aking buhay sa isang police official. Pinirmahan niya, pinupuwersahan niyang pirmahan na tanggapin ang aking privilege kasi nagkautang daw ako, five years na,” he said.

(There’s a police official who threatened me. He forced me to sign documents releasing my privilege because he says I incurred debt. It’s been five years.)

Based on records from the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Plasquita compulsarily retired from service on July 31, 2010, when he turned 56, the mandatory age of retirement. A non-commissioned personnel, his last rank was that of Senior Police Officer 2.

He was assigned in the town of Matalom, Leyte, under the provincial police office.

“As per PNP Police Retiree Benefit Service (PRBS) records, he has not submitted papers in relation to his pension. Per PRO 8 records, he has FAs (firearms) accountability,” read a report sourced by Rappler.

“Nonetheless, PRBS looking into it,” the report read.

Pasquita said he was once assigned in Camp Crame as a “liason officer” of his home region. He said he would go to Camp Crame after he filed his COC to speak to its chief, Police Director General Ricardo Marquez.

“Pupunta ako ng PNP chief para ako pansinin dahil presidential candidate naman ako. Kung hindi ako presidential candidate, baka hindi ako pansinin. Sasabi ko sa kanila, ang lahat ng kahirapan sa 5 years na wala akong pera,” he said.

(I’ll go to the PNP chief because I’m a presidential candidate now. If I weren’t, they wouldn’t notice me. I’ll tell them about my hardships the past 5 years because I’m poor.)

“I’m proud of myself na, being a police, malinis ako. Hindi naman ako mayaman, pero I’m proud na kahit isang pera, hindi nagnanakaw ng pera ng bayan,” said Plasquita.

(I’m proud of myself for being a policeman. I’m clean. I’m not rich, but I’m proud because I never stole from the country.)

Police officials in Crame started looking into Plasquita’s claims after his emotional plea before the Comelec. A photo of Plasquita posted on Rappler has close to 6,500 likes and more than 1,000 shares.

“Nakita ‘nyo isa sa problema. Hinaing ng isang magiting na retired police, 5 years nang di nakakatanggap ng retirement fee. Kailangan n’ya pa mag-file ng COC para mapakinggan,” read the top comment on the post.

(You see the problem here. It’s the plea of a brave retirement policeman who hasn’t gotten his retirement benefits in 5 years. He needs to file a COC to be heard.) –Rappler.com