Will a Mindanao VP bet rise for Gibo? Revilla passes
Posted on 7:15 PM, under Gilbert Teodoro, Ramon Revilla Jr.
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THE Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) is looking at the possibility of a Mindanaoan as running mate of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
This came up during a meeting yesterday of the Lakas-Kampi national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Malacañang.
"Leaders of the party or members of the execom coming from Mindanao were very vocal and very passionate about the need for the party to consider somebody who will represent the interest of Mindanao," said Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio and party secretary general.
He said the NEC members also suggested that the party give "top priority to somebody who belongs not only to the party but to the national executive committee itself."
Lakas-Kampi’s vice presidential and senatorial bets are expected to be known on November 19 when the party holds its national convention at the PICC.
During the national convention, Teodoro will take over the chairmanship of the party from President Arroyo who will assume the post of president emeritus.
Claudio said three prominent personalities are being considered as Teodoro’s running mate but declined to name them.
Among the names earlier floated were Sen. Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. of Lakas-Kampi, former Optical Media Board chairman Edu Manzano, and Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano.
Revilla declined, saying he would be a more effective public servant as a senator.
He also said he could not turn down the appeal of his father, former senator Ramon Revilla, form him to remain a senator.
There are seven Mindanaoans in the NEC. They are Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who is the party’s president for Mindanao; Rep. Simeon Datumanong, senior vice president; Tawi-Tawi Rep. Nur Jaafar, vice president for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao; and Prospero Pichay, head of the Local Water Utilities Administration.
The three others are regional chairmen -- Surigao del Norte Rep. Glenda Ecleo (Caraga), Gov. Aurora Cerilles (Zamboanga Peninsula) and Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of ARMM.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, asked about Zubiri’s chances in the vice presidential race, said anyone the administration chooses is expected to "fair very, very well" in the elections.
Zubiri was elected in 2007 and will serve as senator until 2013. If ever he runs in 2010 and loses, he could resume his position as senator.
Ermita said a Teodoro-Zubiri tandem would bode well for the administration as the two are expected to complement each other, present a balanced team, and eventually boost each other’s chances in the elections.
He added it would show Mindanaoans their interests are not forgotten.
Zubiri is not inclined to run as vice president.
"I cannot abandon my post at this point. I still have a lot of work to do here," he said.
‘DELIBERATE’ SEARCH
Ermita said the administration is not having difficulty finding a running mate for Teodoro. He said the party just wants to be "deliberate" in the search instead of rushing into a decision.
He said the party has a "deep bench" of potential candidates.
Ermita said the party is looking for a vice presidential candidate who was "presidential traits," noting the vice president assumes as acting president when the chief executive is on a foreign trip.
He said the party is also looking for someone who could generate votes not just for himself but for Teodoro as well.
He stressed the party is not closing its doors to candidates who are not from Mindanao or Lakas-Kampi members.
Claudio belied talks the party is having difficulty getting a partner for Teodoro because of Teodoro’s low survey ratings.
He said surveys are "very temporary conditions" and Teodoro’s rating would improve once he steps down form his post as defense secretary, likely next week before the convention, and focuses on his preparations for the elections. – With JP Lopez
Source
This came up during a meeting yesterday of the Lakas-Kampi national executive committee (NEC) meeting in Malacañang.
"Leaders of the party or members of the execom coming from Mindanao were very vocal and very passionate about the need for the party to consider somebody who will represent the interest of Mindanao," said Gabriel Claudio, presidential adviser for political affairs Gabriel Claudio and party secretary general.
He said the NEC members also suggested that the party give "top priority to somebody who belongs not only to the party but to the national executive committee itself."
Lakas-Kampi’s vice presidential and senatorial bets are expected to be known on November 19 when the party holds its national convention at the PICC.
During the national convention, Teodoro will take over the chairmanship of the party from President Arroyo who will assume the post of president emeritus.
Claudio said three prominent personalities are being considered as Teodoro’s running mate but declined to name them.
Among the names earlier floated were Sen. Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. of Lakas-Kampi, former Optical Media Board chairman Edu Manzano, and Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano.
Revilla declined, saying he would be a more effective public servant as a senator.
He also said he could not turn down the appeal of his father, former senator Ramon Revilla, form him to remain a senator.
There are seven Mindanaoans in the NEC. They are Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who is the party’s president for Mindanao; Rep. Simeon Datumanong, senior vice president; Tawi-Tawi Rep. Nur Jaafar, vice president for the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao; and Prospero Pichay, head of the Local Water Utilities Administration.
The three others are regional chairmen -- Surigao del Norte Rep. Glenda Ecleo (Caraga), Gov. Aurora Cerilles (Zamboanga Peninsula) and Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan of ARMM.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, asked about Zubiri’s chances in the vice presidential race, said anyone the administration chooses is expected to "fair very, very well" in the elections.
Zubiri was elected in 2007 and will serve as senator until 2013. If ever he runs in 2010 and loses, he could resume his position as senator.
Ermita said a Teodoro-Zubiri tandem would bode well for the administration as the two are expected to complement each other, present a balanced team, and eventually boost each other’s chances in the elections.
He added it would show Mindanaoans their interests are not forgotten.
Zubiri is not inclined to run as vice president.
"I cannot abandon my post at this point. I still have a lot of work to do here," he said.
‘DELIBERATE’ SEARCH
Ermita said the administration is not having difficulty finding a running mate for Teodoro. He said the party just wants to be "deliberate" in the search instead of rushing into a decision.
He said the party has a "deep bench" of potential candidates.
Ermita said the party is looking for a vice presidential candidate who was "presidential traits," noting the vice president assumes as acting president when the chief executive is on a foreign trip.
He said the party is also looking for someone who could generate votes not just for himself but for Teodoro as well.
He stressed the party is not closing its doors to candidates who are not from Mindanao or Lakas-Kampi members.
Claudio belied talks the party is having difficulty getting a partner for Teodoro because of Teodoro’s low survey ratings.
He said surveys are "very temporary conditions" and Teodoro’s rating would improve once he steps down form his post as defense secretary, likely next week before the convention, and focuses on his preparations for the elections. – With JP Lopez
Source
