Ruling coalition torn between Lakas, Makati business groups

The new ruling People Power Coalition (PPC) appears to be torn between the original Lakas-NUCD mainstays and the faction representing the Makati business groups, political observers said yesterday.

Former President Fidel Ramos is the moving force of the Lakas bloc, while Executive Secretary Renato de Villa is there to voice the interest of those holding the purse strings.

While both are military men, Ramos junked De Villa to endorse then Speaker Jose de Venecia in the 1998 presidential elections, forcing De Villa to form his own party, Reporma.

The latest jockeying for power of the two blocs was most evident in the recent drafting of the final senatorial lineup of the PPC, the analysts said.

These power blocs may eventually reduce President Arroyo into a mere puppet president as individual interest groups practically make her decide according to their interests, a political figure allied with the administration warned yesterday.

The source, requesting anonymity, said Mrs. Arroyo has apparently been caught up in a vigorous "power play" of big interest groups within her Cabinet.

"She’s not a quick decision-maker. She can’t have her full command," the source said.

The source claimed that selection of appointees for government posts has been greatly influenced by presidential friends belonging to civil society, business and the military.

In particular, the source cited that Kompil II, the Makati Business Club, particularly the Ayala group, and some military people allied with De Villa have put themselves at the forefront.

He said economic blocs also prevailed in the selection of the 13 senatorial candidates of the PPC.

The source said that re-electionist Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, who had earlier pledged allegiance to the PDP-Laban of Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., was accommodated upon the lobbying of the Lopez group as well as the endorsement of Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr.

The Lopez group also backed the nomination of lawyer Francis Pangilinan and economist Solita Monsod.

Pangilinan’s candidacy was also allegedly being pushed by the Aboitiz group of companies, whose advertising icon in its shipping merger WG&A is Sharon Cuneta, Pangilinan’s wife.

On the other hand, Monsod’s husband, former Commission on Elections chief Christian, currently holds a top position in one of the Lopez companies.

Of the 13 candidates, Monsod and former Internal Revenue commissioner Liwayway Vinzons Chato emerged as the least preferred, party insiders said.

Incidentally, Monsod, Chato and Pangilinan were recommended by the influential Kompil II.

And Chato received an added boost from the Couples for Christ group and former President Ramos, under whose term she was the BIR chief who went after taipan Lucio Tan.

Ramos was reportedly lobbying for Chato and former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Perfecto Yasay Jr.

"Chato had more backers. Yasay had only Ramos but the party felt Yasay had better chances of winning than Chato," an insider said.

Another source said Pangilinan was given a slot to prevent media personality Noli de Castro from joining the lineup.

The 13 candidates of the PPC in the May 14 elections are Joker Arroyo, Franklin Drilon, Juan Flavier, Ernesto Herrera, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Roberto Pagdanganan, Ralph Recto, Wigberto Tañada, Manuel Villar, Chato, Monsod, Osmeña and Pangilinan.