Legarda sticking with NPC in 2010 polls

Disclosing that she and party mate Senator Francis Escudero have already made talks, Senator Loren Legarda on Monday said she is gunning for a higher position in the 2010 elections under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). "I’m running for (a) higher post in my political party. I will stay with the opposition. Mayroon nang mga pag-uusap at wala namang problema, pero patuloy ang pag-uusap sa plataporma at pagpapatakbo ng kampaniya (Talks have been going smoothly, so far. Talks on the platform and how to run the campaign are ongoing)," Legarda said during a weekly forum at the Manila Hotel. Legarda, however, did not say what position she will be seeking in next year's elections. "It’s not a matter of who is (number) one or two." Escudero is the other NPC stalwart reportedly eyeing the presidency in the 2010 polls. Platform over position In the same press forum, Legarda maintained that platform is more important than the position she would run for. And should she indeed becomes a candidate, Legarda said she would include the following in her platform: good governance, sustainable and equitable socio-economic development, protection of the ecosystem, protection and promotion of culture, heritage, and ancestral domain of the country’s 15 million indigenous people, solving the peace problem in Mindanao, and climate change adaptation. The senator likewise thanked the governors who she said had picked her as their favorite running mate for Defense Sec. Gilberto Teodoro Jr., the impending standard bearer of administration coalition Lakas-Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino)-CMD. “Everybody is welcome to help," she said. Earlier, Legarda herself claimed that she was being courted by five prospective presidential candidates, saying she had been receiving feelers from them. [See: Loren bares VP offers by 5 presidential aspirants] In the 2004 polls, Legarda was the vice presidential running mate of the late Fernando Poe Jr. Both lost to the tandem of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and then Senator Noli de Castro. Escudero Legarda's most likely partner this time - Escudero - had postponed the announcement of his political plans in deference to the victims of twin calamities brought by cyclones “Ondoy" and “Pepeng." [See: No announcement yet of 2010 poll plans for Escudero] Escudero, a constant front runner in surveys on most preferred presidential aspirants, turned 40 last October 10. His age makes him eligible to seek the presidency in 2010. Under Article VII, Section 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, "No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least 40 years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately preceding such election." Escudero likewise hinted that Legarda could be his running mate because they are under the same party: "Magka-partido kami at walang dahilan na hindi kami magkakasama sa mga darating na panahon (We are party mates and there is no reason for us not to be together in the coming days)." Those who have announced their presidential bids for the 2010 are: Senators Benigno Aquino III with Senator Manuel Roxas as vice president the Liberal Party; Senator Manuel Villar Jr. for the Nacionalista Party; Senator Gilberto Teodoro Jr. for Lakas-Kampi-CMD; former President Joseph Estrada with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay as VP for the United Opposition; Bro. Eddie Villanueva for Bangon Pilipinas Movement; environmentalist Nicanor Perlas; Olongapo City councilor John Carlo delos Reyes for Ang Kapatiran; and Senator Jamby Madrigal. Those who are reportedly either eyeing the presidency or vice presidency are Senator Richard Gordon, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane. - Amita O. Legaspi with Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV