Elly Pamatong

Ragen Elly Velez Lao Pamatong^[1][2] (July 10, 1943 – July 24, 2021), commonly known as Elly Pamatong, was a Filipino lawyer, politician and the self-proclaimed President of the Philippines known for his attempts to participate in Philippine elections. Pamatong was declared a nuisance candidate twice for his attempted candidacy for president in 2004 and 2010 by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

Legal career

The Supreme Court of the Philippines suspended Pamatong in 2016, after criticizing Judge Gregorio Pantonosas Jr.^[3] Pamatong has called on the high court to reverse the decision.^[4]

He also joined the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and served as the legal counsel of MNLF founder Nur Misuari, but the MNLF later cut ties with him following the spike attacks he incited in 2004.^[5]

Political career

Pamatong attempted to run for president in the

Pamatong made it to the ballot in elections to the House of Representatives. Pamatong finished last in 2002 Zamboanga del Norte's 1st congressional district special election with just over 1% of the vote.^[7] Over a decade later, he lost in 2013 Davao City's 1st congressional district election, with less than 1% of the vote.^[8]

USAFFE

Elly Pamatong led his own organization called the United States Allied Freedom Fighters of the East (USAFFE; not to be confused with the United States Army Forces in the Far East). According to himself, the organization is a "anti-communist paramilitary organization" meant to oppose the New People's Army in Mindanao. The organization has been described by the media as a far-right group.^[10] Pamatong held the rank of "five star general" within the group.^[11]

Pamatong's USAFFE was established in 2003 and was based on a compound in

The USAFFE was allegedly involved in a plot to bomb Ninoy Aquino International Airport in 2014 and Pamatong was arrested for his suspected involvement.^[10] The group also plotted to bomb the SM Mall of Asia, the Chinese Embassy and the headquarters of D.M. Consunji Inc. which employs hundreds of Chinese.^[11]

In January 2019, Pamatong burned the

Pamatong called on his supporters to spread spikes on roads as a protest against corruption of the administration of then-President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as well as refusal of government authorities to issue he and his supporters permit to organize a rally. Spikes were spread on major roads in Metro Manila, Baguio, Bicol, Cagayan, Davao, and Laguna.^[14]

Lawsuits filed by Pamatong

Pamatong has filed numerous lawsuits against high-profile individuals. Such persons include then-Pope

An outspoken critic of incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte, Pamatong filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court in June 2018. He sought to oust Duterte, on the grounds that his certificate of candidacy in the 2016 presidential election was illegal.^{[15][16][17][18]}

Death

On July 24, 2021, Pamatong died at the age of 78 due to cardiac arrest.^[19] He died in Arayat, Pampanga.^[20] Due to the request of his family, his death was only made known to the wider public when the certificate of candidacy filing for the 2022 Philippine general election began on October 1, 2021.^[19] His body was cremated and the remains were in-urned on August 1, 2021. The USAFFE, Pamatong's group, kept the urn in a chapel in Arayat.^[19]

References