Danding will run next year, say House allies

Businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr.’s "firm decision" to run for president next year has nothing to do with the Sandiganbayan’s lifting of the government sequestration order on his 47 percent block of shares in San Miguel Corp. (SMC).

"He’s running (and) property considerations are not (the) purpose of his running," said Cojuangco supporter Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras.

Paras made the assurance after the Sandiganbayan lifted on Wednesday the sequestration orders which the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) issued against Cojuangco in 1986.

Paras said he spoke with the businessman three days ago and their discussion indicated that Cojuangco, who ran for president in 1992 under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) which he founded, is still planning to run next year.

Paras also dismissed the speculation raised by Sen. Joker Arroyo that the Sandiganbayan may have lifted the sequestration order because Cojuangco had already agreed not to run against President Arroyo next year.

But Cojuangco’s nephew, Tarlac Rep. Gilberto Teodoro, NPC whip in the House of Representatives, disavowed knowledge of his uncle’s plan aside from his earlier announcement that he will make public his final decision on Oct. 15.

Cojuangco was supposed to have announced his decision in September but postponed it to Oct. 15 after NPC leaders decided to hold a party caucus on that day to decide on the coalitions it will forge for next year’s May 10 presidential, congressional and local elections.

The NPC is currently allied with the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and several other parties under the so-called "Sunshine Coalition" in the House forged by Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Lakas-CMD still controls more congressional seats than the NPC but Cojuangco’s nationwide machinery has effectively made the party the biggest threat to the ruling party. NPC is the second largest bloc in the House.

However, NPC’s relations with Lakas-CMD were strained earlier this year after De Venecia, who is now Lakas-CMD president, was accused of sitting on congressmen’s pork barrel funds.

The Sunshine Coalition almost unraveled in July when disgruntled NPC congressmen plotted to oust De Venecia as Speaker but Mrs. Arroyo, Lakas party chairman and standard- bearer, prevailed on Cojuangco to maintain the coalition.

Differences among members of both parties were later resolved but several Lakas-CMD members, including Paras, have openly pushed for Cojuangco’s presidential candidacy and threatening party unity.