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By James Konstantin Galvez, Researcher
Both the administration and the opposition have
de- cided not to name their lineups for the May elections until
January 15, when the period for filing candidacies officially
starts.
The two camps said they already have potential
slates, particularly for the Senate, but said they have yet to
finalize them.
Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio
said on Friday that the administration is shortlisting its
candidates so it could come up with a senatorial slate in time for
the filing of certificates of candidacy.
“There’s an increasing number of potential
candidates so we’re narrowing down our list,” Claudio said.
The period for filing of certificates of
candidacy starts January 15 and lasts until February 12.
“We have sufficient time to choose our
candidates,” Claudio said.
He said it is possible Malacañang may reserve
at least one slot for a guest candidate as it had done in 2004 when
Miriam Defensor Santiago joined the administration’s senatorial
ticket.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita earlier said
“winnability” would be a basic requisite in choosing
administration candidates.
“We hope those chosen will live up to their
commitment to push President Arroyo’s development program and to
remain with the administration,” he said.
Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor,
Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes and Optical Media Board chief
Eduardo Manzano are among those believed to be shoo-ins for the
Palace’s slate.
“There are many possibilities, although
concerned sectors are advising the administration against tapping
personalities with ‘dual citizenship,’” Claudio said,
referring to politicians who seek personal gain by drifting from one
political camp to another.
Defensor is denying speculations he will join
the opposition soon. “Such transfer isn’t possible now but the
unity ticket is a good idea to reconcile us all which is my dream
for the Philippines,” he said.
Claudio also neither confirmed nor denied
whether Senators Joker Arroyo, Nacionalista Party leader Manny
Villar and Ralph Recto are on the list.
He said the Palace continues considering them as
its allies since they haven’t formally announced any plans of
bolting the administration.
The three senators are also believed to be
likely contenders for slots in the opposition ticket.
Meeting at the Club Filipino Friday, the United
Opposition (UNO) said it would wait until January 10 to name its
candidates.
But Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, the UNO
president, said they already have the names of the people who they
feel are the right choices because of their track record and ability
to win.
“We are sending a very strong message to Mrs.
Gloria Macapagal-Arryo that we are prepared to battle with her in
the coming polls. Like David, we are ready to put up 40 million
sling shots [representing votes] against the Goliath
[administration],” said Binay.
Former senator Ernesto Maceda said he would not
run for senator to give way to the other aspirants. “I will be
just a foot soldier under General Jejomar Binay and Commander
Estrada,” Maceda said.
Binay said UNO will be fielding a
“powerhouse” team. “We have all the potentials. But those
potentials will have to agree and submit to the anti-administration
platform,” he said.
“If you will be a candidate of the UNO,
you’ll have to live with the basic requirement; and that is
anti-Gloria. We would not choose a candidate that would not follow
with our platform,” Binay said.
He also discussed the possibility of former
senator Nikki Coseteng running in her district in Quezon City under
the opposition banner. “I would like to tell you that we are
trying hard to convince her to run in her district. We are hoping
that she and other opposition leaders can group together so we can
complete out slate in Quezon City,” Binay said.
Also at the meeting were top candidates for
senator on the opposition lineup, Amina Rasul, JV Ejercito, Jinggoy
Estrada, Francis Escudero, Ernesto Herrera, Tito Sotto, John Osmeña
and other local officials who sworn their loyalty to UNO.
Binay also denied the allegation that former
President Joseph Estrada has the final say on who’s running for
the opposition. He said that they are very democratic in choosing
the ticket.
--With PNA
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