The ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD appears to be looking at Bayani Fernando as the vice-presidential running mate of Defense Secretary Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro in the 2010 elections.Four of Lakas-Kampi’s prospects—Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Ramon Revilla Jr. as well as Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and her former husband game-show host Edu Manzano—have all rejected offers to run for the second highest elective post under the ticket of the ruling party.
This development gave rise to the possibility that Lakas may have to groom Fernando, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, for the vice-presidential slot, sources said.
Fernando, who has expressed interest in running for the presidency, was twice seen conferring over coffee with Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Lakas-Kampi president, at the Mario’s restaurant in Quezon City.
Top Lakas-Kampi officers have endorsed Zubiri but the lawmaker from Mindanao said he is not ready “emotionally and financially” to run for vice president.
Ermita said fielding Zubiri as vice-presidential candidate would address concerns of “Imperial Manila” neglecting Mindanao.
“We believe if we have someone from there [Mindanao], they would feel that their interests are not forgotten by the national government,” he said.
Zubiri said he is busy with his work in the Senate, as the burden of steering the legislative body to pass the 2010 budget falls on his shoulders.
“I’m the majority floor leader. I cannot abandon my post,” he said.
Moreover, he said he is not ready. Zubiri joined Revilla, Manzano, and Santos who have turned down offers to be the running mate of Teodoro.
Revilla, whose party mates in Lakas-Kampi are banking on his capability to bring in the votes from Cavite, Rizal and Nueva Ecija, has opted to seek re-election.
“I’m not prepared,” he told reporters at the Senate.
“Matapos ang serye ng konsultasyon, naniniwala ako, ang aking mga lider sa iba’t ibang panig ng bansa at ang aking pamilya na mas epektibo kong mapaglilingkuran ang ating mga kababayan kung ako’y mananatili bilang senador. [After a series of consultations, I believed as wells as leaders in different parts of the country and my family, that I can more effectively serve the country as a senator),” Revilla said in a statement.
His father, former Senator Ramon Revilla Sr., also did not approve of the vice-presidential offer and asked him to seek another mandate for the Senate seat instead.
Revilla said he has asked the Lakas-Kampi to remove him from the list of possible running mates of Teodoro.
Zubiri and Revilla were floated as possible vice-presidential candidates of the Lakas-Kampi after Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno opted not to seek the vice presidency.
Manzano is no longer available as running mate of Teodoro.
Manzano said he would join the senatorial ticket of the Liberal Party, which is fielding Senators Benigno Aquino III for president and Manual Roxas II for vice president.
Manzano was scheduled to take his oath as member of the LP on Thursday, but this has been postponed.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD senior vice-president Prospero Pichay said former Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is also being considered as Teodoro’s running mate.
Gabriel Claudio, Lakas-Kampi-CMD secretary-general, meanwhile, said the party would still have to consult party members before choosing Teodoro’s running mate and the ruling party’s senatorial candidates.
“Through consultations, we’re probably the only party that goes through deliberate and thorough process on choices for national candidates,” Claudio said.
Claudio clarified that the delay in the naming of the party’s vice-presidential candidate and senatorial ticket was not due to the weak survey standings of Teodoro or the shallow bench for possible candidates within the party.
He reiterated that the party intends to field a full slate, from the national to the local level or a total of around 17,000 candidates.
“If we wanted to be rash about this, we’re already in position to name anyone now. Nobody wants to take that liberty. We’d like to give the party and electorate the best combination for the 2 top positions. We still have many days from filing. No need to rush,” Claudio said.
Claudio also said that despite the breakdown of coalition talks with the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Teodoro still enjoys the support of his former partymates in the NPC.
He said many NPC local officials are backing Teodoro’s presidential bid. “If not institutionally, more certainly at local level. It will be safe for me to lay claim to the fact many NPC members are in fact sympathetic and supportive of the proposition for continued alliance and working coalition with Lakas-Kampi-CMD in relation to the coming elections.”
Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNation.htm?f=2009/november/12/nation1.isx&d=/2009/november/12
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