Chiz’s anointment in peril as NPC convention hangs in balance

By Charlie V. Manalo
10/21/2009


As the various Philippine political parties scramble to prepare for their respective conventions to formalize the announcements of their official line-up for the 2010 national and local elections from the president down to the very last of the candidates, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s dream of becoming the 15th president of the Philippines may be in danger of being shattered after one of his partymates disclosed that the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) might no longer hold its convention to pick its standard bearer.

In an interview, a ranking NPC member bared, on condition of anonymity, that their party may no longer hold its national convention as planned after party big boss, business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, allegedly hesitated to endorse the candidacy of Escudero as NPC standard bearer unless Sen. Loren Legarda is drafted as the party’s vice presidential bet.

But the party insider said Legarda is not keen on running alongside Escudero as he has nothing to offer her in terms of funding. Cojuangco, the source said, will only be funding partly the NPC campaign, thus leaving the candidates to fill up their own campaign coffers.

But with Escudero and Legarda both not

known to possess huge resources, they would be hard-pressed to raise funds to match the resources of their political rivals, according to the party source.

“Given the situation, it would be understandable why Loren has continuously refused to accept party proposals to slide down instead as Chiz’s running mate,” the source said refuting clams by party Secretary General, Rizal Rep. Michael John Duavit that Legarda has already agreed to slide down as Escudero’s vice president as her “belated gift” to the Bicolano lawmaker who celebrated his birthday earlier this month.

The party insider added this is why rumors began circulating over the weekend that Legarda might end up as the administration’s vice presidential candidate as the running mate of Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro.

Legarda, however, denied the rumor the other day announcing that while she is indeed running for a higher position, she would be sticking it out with the opposition.

Aggravating matters for Escudero, according to the party source, is that there is allegedly “ongoing negotiations” between Cojuangco and his cousin, former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. on the “possibility of supporting the candidacy” of their nephew, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, Liberal Party’s (LP) standard-bearer.

The party insider also said that Danding appears to be “wary of the people surrounding Noynoy,” who include the politicians and members of civil society groups.

In a related development, an official of the administration party Lakas - Kampi- CMD bared they have set tentatively set for Nov. 12 its national convention to formalize the party’s choice for standard-bearer and the rest of its slate for the May 2010 election.

In a telephone interview, deputy secretary general Ray Roquero said the national convention, which will be held either here in Metro Manila or in Cebu, would serve as the venue to ratify the decision made by the national executive committee last September to draft Teodoro as their candidate for president.

Roquero added that aside from Teodoro, the party’s vice presidential bet and initial senatorial slate will also be decided during the convention which is expected to be attended by its members nationwide.

In a related development, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday called on Teodoro to resign his post and instead focus on his campaign for the presidency in the coming elections.

Teodoro should now be doing his rounds, engaging talks with administration allies in the local level, to ensure their continuing commitment with the ruling coalition party, Zubiri said amid the apparent spate of “defections” of prominent Lakas-Kampi personalities to camps identified with the political opposition, the latest of which is Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte Jr., who yesterday took an oath as a new member of the Nationalist Party of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

“My advice to him, as vice president of the (Lakas-Kampi) party is “to wrap up your job in the NDCC (National Disaster Coordinating Council), finish your job as secretary of the DND (Department of National Defense) and start doing the rounds, talk to various leaders, mayor, governors, secure their commitment to remain with the party and guard against transfer to another party,” he said.

Zubiri, who is Lakas-Kampi vice president for Visayas and Mindanao, admitted the need to conduct consultations with local officials to strengthen their hold at the grassroots level at this time.

“We can not blame him because our presidential candidate is busy addressing the concerns of the incoming typhoon Ramil while also attending to the continuing relief and rehabilitation efforts. We can not blame him because that’s part of his duties. Unless he resigns and does the rounds, a number of our allies might be lured to join other political parties. Other parties could easily raid our ranks,” he said.

“It’s but natural, that there are those taking advantage of the situation by conducting talks and these officials would, of course, be tempted to abandon their party,” he said.

“It’s a national progression especially since this coming poll exercise is a presidential elections. Our experience in the past, during the 2004 and 1998 elections, a number of Lakas members transferred to the party of (former President Joseph) Estrada, especially when his political organization had a good showing insofar as support is concerned and from the 120 congressmen aligned with us, we ended up with only 29,” he noted.

Zubiri called on his ranks to remain patient and allow their presidential bet to first fulfill his duties as NDCC chairman in view of the calamity crisis,

Based on the information from Zubiri, the senator said Teodoro is slated to tender his resignation within the next few weeks or shortly after Congress resumes its sessions on the second week of November.

“I hope they give him more time and allow him to talk to them first before they make a decision. I hope they stay put with the party,” he said.

Meanwhile, militant lawmakers on Tuesday withdrew their political party accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to participate in the May 2010 polls.

Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo explained they were informed by the Comelec second division hearing their accreditation that once the petition of their coalition-Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan) is granted the members of the coalition will undergo a dissolution.

“The view of the (Comelec) is that if the petition is granted, the members of the coalition will have to be dissolved,” Ocampo said.

Because of this, Ocampo said the members of the coalition all agreed to pull out their petitions for accreditation with the Comelec.

He added that the commission has already approved their withdrawal.

He noted that Makabayan is set to hold its convention on Nov. 13 where they will discuss the plans of the coalition.

But he assured that he is still running for the Senate next year together with Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño.

With Angie M. Rosales and Marie Surbano


Source: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20091021hed3.html