VP Noli not running under Lakas in 2010

After weeks of dilly-dallying, Vice President Noli de Castro on Wednesday finally disclosed that he is not running under the ruling Lakas-Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino)-CMD party in the 2010 elections. "I’m not one of their candidates anymore," De Castro said in a chance interview with reporters at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City. Asked if he would now join other political parties, De Castro replied: "Wala akong sinasabing ganoon (I’m not saying anything like that)." The vice president, however, did not mention his political plans for next year’s elections. In an interview with GMANews.TV, De Castro’s spokesperson, Dale Zapata said: "He (De Castro) did not divulge anything about that (political plans)." Presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio, Lakas-Kampi-CMD’s secretary general, earlier said Malacañang gave De Castro until Sept 16, 2009 to decide on his political plans, but the vice president later denied he was given a deadline to decide whether or not he would run for president. De Castro made the statement while Lakas-Kampi-CMD was holding its national executive committee meeting at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel in Mandaluyong City to determine who will be the administration's standard bearer in the 2010 elections. Despite being a frontrunner in surveys on most preferred presidential aspirants, De Castro had long been tight-lipped on his plans, including a possible shot at the presidency in next year's polls. Last month, the vice president said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Lakas-Kampi-CMD national chairman, had invited him to join the administration party so that he could be among the choices for standard bearer. [See: Arroyo invites De Castro to join admin party - report] "Karangalan ko na mai-consider nila kung saka-sakali't ako'y mag-decide na tumakbo (It's my pleasure to be invited by them just in case I decide to run next year)," De Castro said then. His response during a chance interview with reporters on Wednesday appeared to have ended speculations on whether he would seek the presidency under the administration party in 2010. No other party but Lakas In stark contrast, possible administration bet Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said he would only seek the presidency under the administration banner. "Running under another party is not an option," Teodoro said in response to the question of presidential son Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo, who asked what Teodoro would do if he would not be picked. On the same question, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando said he is keeping his options open. Fernando said that he might still seek the presidency even if Lakas-Kampi-CMD does not pick him. As of posting time, party members are interrogating the two prospective administration bets. Prior to the questioning, both Fernando and Teodoro formally wooed party officials into nominating them to be the standard bearer for the 2010 polls. Through a coin toss, Fernando, also the party’s vice president for National Capital Region, was given the floor first. The MMDA chair played up his status as a party stalwart, saying he had seen it grow from the very beginning. He likewise urged the party to enjoin all party members in the selection process. "I believe that selecting the party's standard bearer in the 2010 elections must not be a simple party consensus but a very important selection process as that holds the future of the party," he said. Collective wisdom For his part, Teodoro said he was leaving the selection process to the "collective wisdom" of party members. He also said he joined the party because of its vision of “justice," “social empowerment," and “solidarity." Teodoro used to be a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), but he bolted the party last March. The NPC’s chair emeritus is Teodoro’s uncle, business tycoon Eduardo “Danding" Cojuangco Jr. At the executive committee meeting, Teodoro also said he wanted a new and strong Philippines. "This is the meaning of the 2010 elections, not only electing us, but bringing the country forward." He was interrupted twice by applause. - with Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV