LDP pushes for Loren as its choice for VP
BY ANGELO S. SAMONTE REPORTER

President Gloria Arroyo asked members of the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) to work hard to ensure the victory of its standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro in the May 2010 elections. In a speech at the national convention of the administration party on Thursday, President Arroyo said that Lakas-Kampi was able to withstand several challenges because its members stood firm behind its principles.

The President, the head of the administration party, presided over the convention as she endorsed the candidacy of Teodoro.

“It is now time to consolidate our ranks and fortify our party for the electoral battle ahead,” she told party members gathered at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City (Metro Manila). “First things first, let us have him elected.”

Lakas-Kampi CMD, according to Mrs. Arroyo, is the “party of the future” holding the nation’s best interest because it is young, dynamic and has competent leaders like Teodoro and Edu Manzano, the party’s vice presidential candidate in next year’s polls.

The President said that Lakas-Kampi remains the dominant party amid defections, adding that its network of local forces all over the country would carry its candidates to victory in May 2010.

She called Lakas-Kampi CMD “the true party of the people” because “almost 3 of 4 elected leaders are Lakas members.”

‘Watch out’

Teodoro and Manzano vowed victory in next year’s balloting. (See Teodoro’s acceptance speech on Opinion A4).

The party’s standard-bearer expressed confidence in winning the elections saying, “Watch out, Gibo and Edu will win in 2010. The victory for the Filipino people was the destiny of our party.” Gibo is his nickname.

If elected, Teodoro said that he would pursue national development through education, poverty eradication, environmental protection, job generation and national reconciliation.

“And to assure our citizens the exercise of their human rights, together, as a nation, we shall address the four faces of poverty: poverty of the mind, poverty of the pocket, poverty of the environment and poverty of relationships,” he ticked off in his acceptance speech.

Another political party seemed to have swung into action on the eve of the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy.

LDP wants Loren

Also on Thursday, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) suited up by adopting Sen. Loren Legarda as its guest candidate for vice president, and gave Sen. Edgardo Angara, the party president, blanket authority to name the guest candidate for president.

Legarda is running mate of Teodoro’s opponent, Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. of the Nacionalista Party.
Angara said that he would announce the party’s candidate for president on or before December 1, the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy.

The LDP, which is not fielding any national candidate for the 2010 elections, also adopted as its guest candidates for senator reelectionists Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Pia Cayetano and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and former Sen. Franklin Drilon. Angara said that they would also adopt former Sen.
Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd should he decide to run for the Senate again.

Provincial Board Member Ezra Gomez of Mountain Province moved for the adoption of Legarda, who was invited to the meeting of the LDP national executive committee at the Manila Hotel.

Gomez said that Legarda is hardworking, intelligent and capable of delivering on her promised programs of government. He also cited Legarda’s advocacy of climate-change preparedness, renewable energy and greening.

The LDP was part of Team Unity that fielded the tandem of Fernando Poe Jr. and Legarda in the 2004 presidential elections. Legarda’s protest against the proclamation of Vice President Noli de Castro was dropped after she took her oath of office in 2007 when she topped the senatorial elections in that year.
She is the only woman to be elected No. 1 senator twice.

Taking up Villar

Legarda made a pitch for her presidential candidate, Senator Villar. She said that if the LDP is supporting her because of her advocacies, then it should also back the candidacy of Villar because they share the same advocacies.

If elected in 2010, Legarda said, she would push for sustainable and equitable development. She also vowed that there would be no increase in her assets and liabilities while in office. “I will not enrich myself in office.”

Angara said he would talk with the presidential aspirants before deciding whom the party will support. He added that they should present to the LDP “a roadmap of progress, if not our very survival.”
WITH REPORT FROM EFREN L. DANAO