MANILA - The ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD has abandoned the option of coalescing with the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) and drafting Sen. Loren Legarda as running mate of its standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro."I think we have abandoned the idea of a Lakas-NPC coalition because there are some NPCs not keen on [a] coalition," said former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay, Lakas-Kampi-CMD senior vice-president for membership, when asked about the prospects of the coalition first proposed by some NPC members at the local level.
The coalition is said to be a graceful way for the re-entry of Legarda into the administration after repeatedly saying recently that she would run under the opposition.
Legarda first ran for the Senate in 1998 under the Lakas-CMD tandem of then House Speaker Jose de Venecia and then Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
With Legarda out of a possible tandem for Teodoro, Pichay said they are left with three celebrity politicians, including actor-TV host Edu Manzano, Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and former Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
There are reports, however, that Manzano has already joined the Liberal Party of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Loren: Nothing's final
Meanwhile, Legarda said "nothing's final" when asked about a possible alliance between the NPC and the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD or the Nacionalista Party (NP)
Interviewed in Mindanao, Legarda denied she had agreed to be the running mate of Senator Manny Villar of the NP in a P1 billion deal brokered by Sen. Edgardo Angara.
"Nakakatawa yan at di totoo. Kung makikipagtandem man ako kay Villar, for political machinery and not for money", said Legarda, while shaking her head in disbelief.
The senator was also surprised when asked to confirm if a partnership was already made between NPC and Lakas-Kampi-CMD. "Pano mangyayari yun eh nandito pa ko sa Mindanao?" said Legarda.
Legarda will stay in Mindanao until Thursday. She is set to attend the National Convention on Climate Change in Sultan Kudarat on Wednesday.
Mikey seeking re-election
Pichay, meanwhile, laughed off speculations the party is planning to draft President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as Teodoro’s running mate, saying that option is unacceptable.
“Mas katanggap-tanggap pang tumakbo siyang kongresista kaysa vice-president [It's more acceptable if she runs for Congress than vice-president],” he said.
At the same time, Pichay reiterated that Mrs. Arroyo’s son, Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, is seeking re-election under the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, dispelling speculations that President Arroyo will seek that congressional seat.
However, Pichay said the President has not told him about her electoral plans.
Mrs. Arroyo’s frequent visits to Pampanga have fueled speculations that she is running for Congress.
Her critics say she will be pushing for a shift to a parliamentary system of government, which would give her a crack at becoming Prime Minister.
Local showdowns
Pichay, meanwhile, said Pampanga will have a showdown between incumbent Governor 'Among' Ed Panlilio of the Liberal Party, Baby Pineda of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, and a candidate of the family of Senator Lito Lapid.
He said similar interesting races will happen at the local level:
* Bulacan (Alvarados vs. the Mendozas);
* Palawan (neophyte Pepito Alvarez vs. Baham Mitra for governor);
* Laguna (Dennis Lazaro vs. ER Ejercito vs. former Senator Joey Lina);
* Iloilo (House majority leader Arthur Defensor vs. incumbent Niel Tupas; Raul Gonzales for mayor of Iloilo City); and,
* Davao City (House Speaker Nograles vs daughter of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for mayor; Duterte vs Karlo Nograles for Congress).
Pichay has downplayed talks of defections from the ruling party, preferring to call these as mere “realignments” brought about by the merger of Lakas-Kampi, which, in effect, displaced some members of the 2 parties.
Pichay said that since there is just now only one party, the equity of the incumbent rule bars challengers against incumbents from within the party, leaving them with no choice but to leave to pursue their electoral plans.
Pichay cited the cases of Manny Piñol, who left because of incumbent Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan, and Victor Agbayani and his ally Hernani Braganza, who left because of incumbent Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino Jr..-- with a report from Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News
as of 11/10/2009 4:50 PM
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/10/09/gibo-loren-tandem-no-longer-option-pichay
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