Alvarez: Gloria still the best bet for president

President Arroyo is the most qualified to run for president in next year’s elections under the banner of the pro-administration Lakas NUCD-UMDP, party spokesman Heherson Alvarez said yesterday.

"Whatever the critics may say, it is clear that President Macapagal-Arroyo has been able to uphold and protect the national interest," he said.

"The decisions she made were politically risky but they later proved to be for the national interest."

Alvarez, presidential adviser on overseas Filipino communities, said he is pointing to the "political reality" that Mrs. Arroyo has passed the "acid test for leadership in higher office," and not urging her to change her mind.

"Since the President announced her decision last December not to run in the May 2004 elections, many Lakas NUCD party leaders, especially those in the provinces, were in limbo especially after the move of some Lakas NUCD congressmen to endorse the candidacy of former ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, who is head of the Nationalist People’s Coalition," he said.

Alvarez said the Lakas executive committee would meet soon to start the selection process to choose the party’s standard bearer in next year’s presidential elections. – Sammy Santos