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MalacaÑang said on Thursday that the administration
coalition is studying the inclusion of former senators and Estrada
loyalists, Vicente “Tito” Sotto 3rd and Teresa “Tessie”
Aquino-Oreta, in its senatorial lineup.
“That is highly probable. There
are signs that development toward that end,” said Executive
Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
However, Ermita said he is not
sure whether the two have just changed political affiliation or are
actually joining the administration ticket.
Sotto and Oreta bolted the Laban
ng Demokratikong Pilipino for the Nationalist People’s Coalition
of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco. Political analysts have noted
there is little difference between the LDP and the NPC; both are
allied with the Arroyo administration.
Still a friend
But there may be a crucial factor
in the shift, as Cojuangco is reportedly an important financier in
this year’s May mid-term elections, which is seen as crucial in
ensuring the political survival of Mrs. Arroyo.
Sotto, in an interview over ABS-CBN
Wednesday, said he has not received offers from the administration
to run under the Lakas coalition.
In another interview, over dzMM
radio, he belied claims that his transfer to NPC signifies
abandonment of his friend, deposed President Joseph Estrada.
“In my long years of friendship
with President [Joseph] Estrada we were never party mates,” he
stressed.
Criteria
Ermita said Secretary Gabriel
Claudio, political adviser to the President, will be presenting a
“long list” when Mrs. Arroyo returns Sunday from her three-day
trip to Switzerland.
The President will play a major
role in deliberations for the final administration lineup although
consultations are ongoing among leaders of Lakas-CMD, the
President’s personal party, Kampi, and the NPC.
Ermita said an important part of
the criteria for administration candidates is “winnability” and
“ability to get support of local executives.”
Chavit
Meanwhile, San Juan Mayor Joseph
Victor Ejercito welcomed the decision of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis
“Chavit” Singson to run for the Senate.
In a telephone interview,
Ejercito said that May polls will be a referendum on EDSA 2 and
Singson, the whistleblower on alleged diversion of tobacco excise
taxes by former President Estrada.
“I do hope he does run for the
elections for the Senate since he feels he is the hero of EDSA 2,”
Ejercito said.
“If he wins it means he has
been accepted; if he does not [win] then it goes to show that people
until now have not accepted what happened in 2001,” Ejercito
added.
--Francis Cueto
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