Arroyo names ‘new politics’ candidates

And then there were 13.

President Arroyo unveiled yesterday the 13-member senatorial slate she hand-picked to lead the People Power Coalition (PPC) in the May 14 congressional and local elections.

Mrs. Arroyo announced her choices past midnight of Sunday after grilling prospective candidates on their views on "good governance" and "new politics" at her ancestral home in Forbes Park, Makati City.

At the helm of the PPC slate are incumbent Senators Franklin Drilon, Juan Flavier, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Sergio Osmena III; Bohol Rep. Ernesto Herrera and Quezon Rep. Wigberto Tañada.

The candidates who hope to become neophyte senators are former Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Ma-nuel Villar Jr., Makati Rep. Joker Arroyo, Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto, former Bulacan Gov. Roberto Pagda-nganan, former Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Solita Monsod, former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Liwayway Vinzons-Chato and lawyer Francis Pangilinan.

The 13 candidates filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) before the Commission on Election (Comelec) in Intramuros, Manila after attending a Mass at the nearby Manila Cathedral.

The deadline for the filing of COCs for the Senate was set for midnight yesterday, when the official campaign period began until the eve of May 14 elections.

The President picked the candidates from numerous nominees of the political parties and civic groups comprising the coalition that led moves to oust the graft-tainted Estrada administration.

The PPC is composed of the ruling Lakas-NUCD-UMDP, Reporma Party of Executive Secretary Renato de Villa, Probinsiya Muna Development Initiative (Promdi) of former Cebu Gov. Lito Osmeña, Aksyon Demokratiko of incoming Education Secretary Raul Roco and the Liberal Party founded by the late President Manuel Roxas.

The civic group Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino II (Kompil II) also managed to have four nominees chosen. They are Pangilinan, Monsod, Chato and Tañada.

Mrs. Arroyo herself defended her choices before foreign businessmen in a joint luncheon forum of foreign chambers of commerce in Makati City.

"The candidates were selected not only on their individual qualifications but also on their stand with respect to the emerging common platforms on how our country can face the challenges of the 21st century and win the battle against poverty," the President said.

Mrs. Arroyo admitted that it was not an easy choice to make but her consultations with various political and civic groups showed the way.

"I arrived at a final list of candidates after consultations not only with the political parties that comprise the political coalition but also with civil society," she said.

"That is part of the new politics," she added. "Consultation is the way to get agreement."

And the surveys said...

Presidential chief-of-staff Renato Corona said that aside from their individual platforms, the candidates were also chosen based on moral fitness, qualification, track record and winnability.

Recent surveys by top polling groups also show that PPC’s senatorial slate enjoyed a marked edge over candidates allied with former President Joseph Estrada.

The latest Pulse Asia survey showed that only Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and former Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado would make it to the Top 13. Earlier, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said Estrada allies would only manage to win five of the 13 senatorial seats

The Pulse Asia survey, conducted on Feb. 3-5, showed that re-electionist Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Gregorio Honasan are not likely to return to the Senate.

Former national police chief Panfilo Lacson and former Executive Secretary Edgardo Angara would have to "wage an uphill battle" to win Senate seats, the survey revealed.

Palace sources said the survey results played a vital role in the President’s choice of senatorial candidates.

The PPC originally submitted a list of 17 prospective candidates for the President’s consideration.

However, Leyte Rep. Sergio Apostol, former senator and Isabela Rep. Heherson Alvarez, former senator Santanina Rasul, and former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Perfect Yasay failed to make the final cut.

Palace sources, however, said the four aspirants were persuaded to withdraw their bids and would instead be appointed to important government positions.

Alvarez, a noted environmentalist, would be named secretary of Environment and Natural Resources while Apostol may be named Solicitor General or chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the source said.

Rasul, a veteran Lakas-NUCD-UMDP legislator, was allegedly persuaded by Vice President Teofisto Guingona to yield her slot to Chato since Rasul allegedly "lacks the logistics."

The source said Rasul would instead be named to a top post to represent the interests of Muslim women and other Mindanao citizens in the executive branch.

Both Rasul and Chato did not perform very well in the surveys but Chato reportedly had the backing of Lakas-NUCD-UMDP chairman and former President Fidel Ramos.

Despite being dropped from the Lakas ticket, however, Rasul filed her COC late yesterday afternoon as did Yasay.

The decision to drop Rasul drew criticism from Muslim leaders who threatened that they may break away from their coalition with Lakas.

Tawi-Tawi Vice Gov. Abubakar Mohammad, a leader of the United Muslim Democratic Party (UMDP), said Rasul’s non-inclusion in the final PPC lineup showed the ruling party’s disregard for Muslims.

But Alvarez, who claimed to have supported Rasul’s bid, said the final selection was based on broader considerations and should not be interpreted as a disregard for Muslims.

Other issues also disturbed the peace at the ruling coalition’s headquarters as politicians began arguing about the nuts and bolts of running a campaign.

Liberal Party president and Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad said the PPC would have to immediately name the coalition’s official campaign manager.

Coalition leaders had earlier suggested that Guingona be named campaign manager but other coalition members expressed doubt that the Vice President is healthy enough to handle a rigorous national election campaign.

Abad himself or Alvarez, who is Lakas secretary-general, is being eyed for the post. – With reports from Jess Diaz, Marichu Villanueva and Sandy Araneta