2 opposition senators eyed, Bayani out, in Lakas ‘shortlist’ for 2010

MANILA, Philippines — Two opposition political figures might be included in the shortlist of the possible standard-bearer of the administration party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats in the 2010 presidential elections, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday. Zubiri, Lakas’ secretary general, said Senators Manuel Villar and Loren Legarda are among those they are eyeing as their presidential bet. He said they will be choosing three, which includes Vice President Noli de Castro, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and a dark horse which includes Villar, Legarda and Senator Richard Gordon. “We’re down to three, Vice President Noli De Castro, Sec. Gilbert Teodoro and a dark horse, posible diyan sina Sen. Loren Legarda, dating Senate President Manuel Villar or Sen. Richard Gordon. Basta tatlo," Zubiri said. He said Lakas will be having an emergency meeting on Sunday, April 5, to discuss their possible presidential candidate. “Last day of filing of candidacy is November 30, so, by June 2009 the party should have convened. The latest convention should be at least in July. It is not good if we will not be able to finalize our list by May or June," Zubiri said. He said Lakas executive committee had an emergency meeting last Sunday and the names surfaced. “Kaya tayo naglabas ng tatlong pangalan dahil nakikita na natin iyong urgency. Dapat magkaroon ng kandidato sa pagka-presidente ang Lakas (We released the names because we now see the urgency. Lakas should have a standard bearer)," Zubiri said. Bayani Fernando He said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando is still out of the list because of his poor performance in the surveys. “Mahal na mahal po namin si Chairman Bayani kaya lang hindi siya masyado nagre-rate [We love chairman Fernando but he has poor ratings]. We must be practical," Zubiri said. He added that it is the party that will suffer if the standard bearer is not winnable. “Hindi niya madadala ang mga local leaders ng partido. It’s a game of popularity kaya sana po huwag magalit si Chairman Bayani nagsasabi lang ako ng katotohanan(He would not be able to pull the local leaders of the party. It’s a game of popularity so chairman Fernando should not be angry. I’m just telling the truth)," Zubiri said. He said Fernando should exert more effort to improve his ratings. - GMANews.TV