Taytay, Rizal mayoral candidate Joselito Calderon Sunday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify other candidates for the town’s highest elective post on the ground that they do not have money to launch an effective campaign in the locality.

The mayoral derby in this town has drawn excitement as four of the five bets are surnamed Calderon, thus irking Joselito, who is running under the political party Aksiyon Demokratiko, the party formed by the late senator Raul Roco.

Calderon, who was a municipal councilor prior to his filing of candidacy for mayor, asked the Comelec to disqualify the other candidates.

In pushing for the disqualification of Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) bet Jaime Maceda Calderon and Jose Calderon, the petitioner said that both do not have the financial capability required of modern-day politics. In his petition filed before the election body’s First Division, Joselito Calderon claimed that Jaime does not even own a car, while he described Jose as a “pauper.”

Responding to the petition to disqualify him, Jaime Calderon (who is a private contractor) assailed petitioner Joselito Calderon for discriminating the poor from running for public office.

“I may not be as rich as Joselito Calderon. I am not even sure if I could match the amount he spent during the 2007 local elections when he ran for councilor. But one thing is certain, I am qualified to run,” he said. “It seemed natatakot lang siya sa akin kasi I am from Lupang Arrenda (Barangay Sta. Ana).”

Lupang Arrenda is home to some 35,000 families, translating to more or less 80,000 marginal votes.