Villar: ‘Kabayan unbeatable as VP’

Sen. Noli "Kabayan" de Castro will surely win if he runs for vice president in next year’s elections, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said yesterday.

"He will be an unbeatable candidate. If I will run against him, huwag na lang, taob tayo diyan," Villar, who has his eyes on the vice presidency, told a news conference.

"What I am saying is pag tumakbo si Noli as VP, he is a sure winner. So if you run against him, you are a sure loser," he added.

De Castro topped the election for senators in 2001, while Villar was in seventh place. The broadcaster-turned-senator is widely believed to be eyeing a higher office in 2004 but has not given any hint which post he would aspire for.

Many of his colleagues though believe that he has his sights set on the vice presidency instead of the highest position in the land.

Sen. Joker Arroyo once told reporters that De Castro won’t run for president.

"Noli knows his limitations," he said.

Arroyo, De Castro and Villar belong to the Wednesday Group in the Senate. The group’s two other members are Ralph Recto and Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan. When Congress is in session, the five meet regularly on Wednesdays. They are also alternately called the House Bloc since Villar, Recto and Arroyo are former congressmen.

For the presidency, Villar said former Education Secretary Raul Roco is the man to beat.

"Roco is a very competent man. He can lead this country. He is presently leading in the surveys and campaigning very hard," he said. –Jess Diaz