Gloria kiss of death also haunts her Senate bets

By Angie Rosales

10/23/2009

Not only is the ruling coalition, Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, having a hard time forming a tandem with a fighting chance in next year’s elections, it also appears that it is scraping bottom to form a full senatorial slate of 12 due to the lack of strong candidates.

Except for Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who is a shoo-in in the administration’s Senate ticket, some Cabinet officials being considered to fill in the Senate slots are either not eager to join the race or are reluctant to run under the administration banner.

It is widely accepted that being associated with President Arroyo is a veritable kiss of death for aspirants in next year’s national elections.

The Lakas-Kampi-CMD will likely adopt two administration-friendly reelectionists in the upper chamber, Senate President Juan

Ponce Enrile and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, as guest candidates even if they are carried by what are considered as opposition parties.

A ranking member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), meanwhile, said the party is going to support the candidacy of Senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda even as he disputed reports that the NPC is in disarray and reluctant to support its candidates.

According to Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco the party leaders and all its members are going to support Escudero and Legarda.

“We have a party. NPC. Our party will have its own presidential and vice presidential candidate – that will be Chiz and Loren,” Cojaungco said during the weekly Usaping Balita sa Serye Restaurant in Quezon City.

While Malacañang can easily put up a 12-man slate, the matter of coming up with a formidable team is unrealistic at the moment, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said yesterday.

“The problem with the coming presidential elections, four or five parties fielding in their respective candidates and so they have to come up with a 12-man slate. It’s easy to fill up the slots but to come up with winnable candidates, that’s the more significant concern,” Zubiri, appearing in the weekly Kapihan sa Senado, said.

“I think it’s not only the ruling party experiencing some difficulties on this matter. I think all major political parties are facing the same problem. I had a chance to talk with a very high ranking official of the NP (Nationalista Party) and NPC and they too are having problems,” he added.

Zubiri, Lakas-Kampi-CMD vice president for Visayas and Mindanao, said he’s planning to present a proposal, when the ruling coalition holds a national convention on Nov. 12 tentatively in Cebu , for them to come up with only half of the slate. Zubiri also expressed belief that straight voting is no longer doable or achievable in the coming elections, unlike in the past.

So far, the senator could only confirm the name of Revilla as their party’s official candidate although the latter will also likely be a guest candidate of NP and NPC.

“He’s lucky because he will have three parties backing up his candidacy,” Zubiri said.

The senator admitted that Santiago is part of the administration ticket.

“We are also mulling the idea of Enrile, that he be also our guest candidate because despite his being with PMP (Partido ng Masang Pilipino), he has played a very, very vital role in several of the bills that we have approved (in the Senate). This election, there may be a phenomenon and the phenomenon is the (that of having) guest candidates. I think this will be a unique situation,” he said.

Cojuangco also categorically stated that the NPC is not going to support the presidential bid of Sen. Benigno Aquino III.

“Noynoy is with the LP. He is not part of our party,” he said even as he dispelled rumors that there are back channel communications between the camp of Sen. Aquino and his father.

NP spokesman and former Cavite Representative Gilbert Remulla said: “The NP juggernaut is going to be in full swing between now until the May elections. Already, we are seeing governors of big provinces pledging their support for Senator Manny Villar as President...2010 will be about concrete programs for the poor and not charity photo opportunities in Pateros. 2010 will be about sterling track record, competence, and preparations. 2010 will be about moving the country forward based on knowing what to do in times of trial.”

Presidential aspirant and former Public Works and Highways chief, Hermogenes Ebdane hastily made a decision late last night to formally quit his Cabinet position presumably upon learning that Malacañang was eagerly awaiting his resignation after clearly making it known to public his intention to run for the highest public office next year.

In a faxed resignation letter, Ebdane cited “conflict of interest” as among the reasons mentioning as well his sentiments on the so-called “barriers” he had perceived on the administration party’s selection process. Aytch S. Dela Cruz, Charlie V. Manalo, Gerry Baldo

Back to top

For comments about this website:Webmaster@tribune.net.ph
The Daily Tribune © 2006