81 solons endorse Drilon for VP

At least 81 congressmen endorsed Sen. Franklin Drilon yesterday for the vice presidency.

In a resolution, the Conscience Bloc of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) said Drilon "is the most qualified and deserving among the candidates for vice president."

"His integrity is beyond reproach, and his competence and leadership skills are beyond question," the lawmakers said.

They cited Drilon’s extensive experience in the executive branch and his performance in the Senate. The senator alternately held the positions of executive secretary, justice secretary and labor secretary during the Aquino administration.

He assumed the Senate presidency early last year and lost it shortly after bolting the then ruling Lapian ng Masang Pilipino coalition and calling for Joseph Estrada’s resignation as president.

"We urge President Arroyo to harness the talent, youth and dynamism and leadership of Senator Drilon. He will provide fresh approaches and hold initiatives to the administration and the country," the congressmen said.

The LDP Conscience Bloc is led by deputy Speaker for Luzon Carlos Padilla. It is composed of 25 members.

In a separate resolution, 56 other congressmen shared the Padilla group’s endorsement of Drilon.

Under the Constitution, President Arroyo is to nominate a vice president who shall be confirmed by the Senate and the House voting separately.

The President is said to be choosing among Drilon, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Senate Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona Jr.

Mindanao-based organizations and local officials have endorsed Pimentel, while Lakas has thrown its support for Guingona.

Meanwhile, various influential groups strongly backed Sen. Loren Legarda as "logical compromise" for the vacant vice presidency in view of the "intense in-fighting" between two camps for the same position.

They pointed out that the "feverish rivalry" between Drilon and Guingona backed by former President Corazon Aquino and the ruling Lakas-NUCD, respectively, is causing "divisiveness in the same party."

The joint statement was issued by the same Muslim leaders representing the biggest Muslim associations in the country who had earlier endorsed Legarda to be President Arroyo’s vice presidential nominee.

They were Taha Dasman, secretary general of the Islamic Council; Aleena Ammirudin Sarangani, president, Umma Party; Alim Ali Basher, president of Ittihadul Mashaikh and Sultan Monsing Macabando, chairman of the Marawi Sultanate League.

They had cited Loren’s "patriotism, intelligence, substance and style" and "most massive electoral support, having gotten more votes than then presidential candidate Joseph Estrada."– Jess Diaz