Parties resort to ‘guest candidates’ to fill up slate

by Fel V. Maragay


POLITICAL parties are turning to “guest candidates” to fill up their 12 senatorial positions rather than face the embarrassment of fielding an incomplete lineup in 2010.

“Adopting guest candidates is an emerging phenomenon in the coming elections,” said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who added no party would be able to complete its senatorial lineup without adopting strong candidates from rival parties.

Zubiri, Lakas-Kampi vice president for Mindanao, said it made more sense for a party to adopt “friendly” candidates from other parties who stood a good chance of winning than to fill up the slate with party members who were likely to lose.

Speaking at the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Zubiri said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was willing to be adopted as a guest candidate by the Lakas-Kampi, even though he had been included in the senatorial slate of the United Opposition under ousted President Joseph Estrada.

He said that since Enrile had forged a working alliance with the administration during the l4th Congress, it was logical for the ruling party to back his reelection bid.

Among Cabinet members, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and Tourism Secretary Ace Durano are inclined to run for the Senate under the Nationalist People’s Coalition to which they belong.

“If we can’t have Secretaries Lapus and Durano in the Lakas-Kampi senatorial ticket, perhaps a practical alternative is to adopt them as guest candidates of the administration party,” Zubiri said.

He said the same scheme would apply to Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, a staunch supporter of President Gloria Arroyo, should she accept Estrada’s invitation to seek reelection under the United Opposition.

Only Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. is sure of running under the Lakas-Kampi, Zubiri said, while Health Secretary Francisco Duque was waiting for the results of the next survey before deciding.

Former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay had lost interest in a senatorial seat, while Senator Lito Lapid was dead set on running for governor of Pampanga, a position he had held before, Zubiri added.

Lakas-Kampi is similarly counting on former Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto, but he is also being courted by the Nacionalista Party.

Former Senator Heherson Alvarez, lawyer Romulo Macalintal, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Augusto Syjuco are among the administration’s prospective senatorial contender. But they have yet to announce their political plans.

Only four prospective senatorial bets of the United Opposition showed up at the launching of the presidential team of Estrada and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay at the Plaza Hernandez in Tondo Wednesday. They were Senators Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, lawyer Aquilino Pimentel and businessman Jose de Venecia III.

The other aspirants handpicked by Estrada—Santiago, Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, Makati City Rep. Teodoro Locsin, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., film actor and television show host Edu Manzano, detained former Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Grace Poe Llamanzares—did not show up.

Sources said Plaza might end up being a common candidate of the United Opposition and NPC, of which he is a member. If Marcos joins the Nacionalistas, he could be a guest candidate of the United Opposition as well.

The Nacionalistas have so far listed only five “sure” senatorial bets: Senator Pia Cayetano, lawyer Adel Tamano, TV host Willie Revillame, renegade Marine Col. Ariel Querubin, and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo.

The Liberal Party’s tentative senatorial lineup includes former Senate President Frank Drilon, Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto Guingona III, former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla, former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta, and Akbayan party-list Rep. Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel. Also being considered are former Senator Serge Osmeña III, beauty and wellness specialist Cory Quirino, and singer Leah Navarro.

The leaders of the competing parties claim they have an excess of applicants for the senatorial seats, but must leave some slots vacant to accommodate candidates from other parties with which they wish to form an alliance.

Recto said the Cabinet posts to be vacated by those running for Congress should be filled by career bureaucrats so the transition to the new government in June would be smooth and seamless.

“Tapping career executives will ensure the continuity of programs and prevent the disruption of services,” Recto said.

“And they could serve as a transition team to whomever will win in the May polls.”


Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=/2009/october/23/news2.isx&d=/2009/october/23