THIRTEEN candidates for President and vice president pledged to run for clean elections next year, but Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay could have won as President with plenty to spare if the elections had been decided by yesterday’s foot race.

Only Binay joined the event organized by GMA-7 in Taguig City, finishing the 5-kilometer segment—the other being the 10-kilometer run—in 47 minutes while his fellow hopefuls took their sweet time at the breakfast table.

The president of the United Opposition was drenched in sweat after joining the more than 5,000 runners who took part in the 5K and 10K events.

“Before, I could [finish 5 kilometers] in 18 minutes, but I lacked preparation,” Binay said.

Senator Francis Pangilinan put on his shorts and sneakers but didn’t run, saying he lacked sleep.

Senators Francis Escudero, Dick Gordon, Manny Villar and Mar Roxas, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, and Olongapo City Councilor JC delos Reyes appeared in casual attires.

“I hope everybody is in great shape for a clean and honest election,” Gordon said.

Escudero, a crowd favorite like former President Joseph Estrada, came in a little late.

“My age is not an impediment to my running in the election,” said Escudero, who turns 40 in October and is the youngest presidential aspirant.

“I’m not emulating [US] President Barack Obama. We need to find our own identity, and the youth will be behind me in search of that identity.”

Estrada wore a blue jacket and jogging pants with a red stripe. He jogged his way to the stage, showing he was in top form for another crack at the presidency.

Estrada was driven from power in 2001 and convicted of plunder in 2007, but was pardoned by his successor Gloria Arroyo within weeks.

The Arroyo administration says the Constitution and the conditions of his pardon bar Estrada from running for President again, but Estrada claims otherwise.

He sees no problems with the many presidential aspirants.

“The more, the merrier, [but] I hope we avoid what happened in the 2004 elections [that was marred by cheating],” he said.

Evangelist Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord Movement, who ran for president in 2004, had his jogging pants on—as had Nikki Perlas, an environmentalist and adviser of President Arroyo—but they did not join the fun run.

Senators Jamby Madrigal, who wore gray jogging pants, and Loren Legarda, who was in jeans and rubber shoes, came in a few minutes later.

The aspirants bonded during a ceremonial walk, took an oath, and signed affidavits pledging clean elections in 2010.

Commission on Elections Chairman Jose Melo led the oathtaking, while National Movement for Free Elections chairman Henrietta de Villa, and Philippine Bar Association chairman Federico Agcaoili witnessed the affidavit signing.

“This is good for the country,” a Comelec official said.

The aspirants who didn’t make it were Vice President Noli de Castro, Senator Noynoy Aquino, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca.

De Castro was on a business trip to China, Aquino was still undecided, Puno and Teodoro were both sick, Panlilio was pre-occupied with the vote recount in Pampanga, and Padaca was on a business trip to Belgium.