Gringo to welcome Palace endorsement

Although it claimed that it has not yet received feelers from the administration, the camp of former Sen. Gregorio Honasan will welcome Malacañang's possible endorsement of his senatorial bid this May. Honasan's lawyer Danilo Gutierrez also said the former rightist rebel leader, who was arrested on November 2006 in Quezon City, gained a vindication of sorts after newspaper reports came out that the administration bloc wanted his client on its senatorial lineup. "Since 1995 he has run as an independent. But he doesn't refuse endorsements, so long as those who offer the endorsements follow his platforms of government," Gutierrez said in Filipino during an interview on dzXL radio. Last January 25, the Makati regional trial court-Branch 148 allowed Honasan to personally file his certificate of candidacy this coming Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Judge Oscar Pimentel noted that there were "enough police officers to provide necessary security" to prevent Honasan from escaping. Gutierrez said Honasan plans to use that time to visit the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Manila City and file the certificate of candidacy. However, Gutierrez said that as of Tuesday morning, "no one from Malacañang has brought up the matter with us." The former rebel leader is one of three personalities reportedly being wooed by Malacañang to join the administration's senatorial slate, the two others being former senators Edgardo Angara and Loren Legarda. Angara earlier said in a separate interview he will likely throw in his Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) party into the administration coalition if he decides to seek reelection. When asked what Honasan would do if Malacañang formally made him an offer of endorsement, Gutierrez said he will "consider" it. "He will consider it because he has no grudge against anybody. But he wants to make it clear that to him, endorsements are not based on loyalties to parties or individuals but to the programs he believes in," he said. He said Honasan's platforms are centered on "environmentally friendly programs and bills." Also, Gutierrez said Honasan enjoys support from the administration and opposition sides, including Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Honasan's classmate at the Philippine Military Academy. Honasan is presently detained in a heavily guarded facility in Sta. Rosa town in Laguna, following his arrest in Quezon City on Nov. 15 last year. He faces coup d' etat charges over his alleged participation in the failed July 27, 2003 Oakwood mutiny. The government has also charged Honasan with rebellion in connection with the botched attempt to oust President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on February 24 last year. - GMANews.TV