BF-Ping meet over election plans set

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman and vice presidential hopeful Bayani Fernando admitted yesterday a meeting has been set between him and opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson this week.

"There’s nothing wrong if we ever meet," Fernando told The STAR.

When asked if he and Lacson, a presidential aspirant, would discuss a possible teamup, Fernando chose to be noncommittal.

"We could possibly talk about politics — how we will quarrel or how we can work together," he said.

Fernando, a member of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), was the first government official to declare his bid for the vice presidency and openly said he wanted to be President Arroyo’s running mate.

On Monday, Lakas spokesman Heherson Alvarez said Fernando was on the shortlist of the President’s possible running mates, along with Senators Noli de Castro and Robert Barbers.

However, Fernando has been relegated to the sidelines recently after the possibility of Mrs. Arroyo teaming up with former broadcaster De Castro hit the headlines last week.

Asked if the meeting with Lacson was a result of the reported Arroyo-De Castro tandem, Fernando answered: "There are many possibilities being explored. Nobody should expect that I would just sit back and say nothing."

Fernando said he is not bothered that his upcoming meeting with Lacson might elicit a negative feedback from Malacañang. As MMDA chairman, Fernando holds the rank of a Cabinet secretary.

"I am still expecting that I’ll be the one (chosen as Mrs. Arroyo’s running mate). I feel I am the most qualified and I have been with them for almost my entire political life," Fernando said.

Meanwhile, cracks within the opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino widened yesterday after one camp accused LDP president Sen. Edgardo Angara of purging party members who are pushing for the candidacy of Lacson.

Makati Rep. Agapito Aquino, LDP secretary general, said such acts of Angara, who is openly endorsing action star Fernando Poe Jr. to run for president, could be an indication that there can be no fair and transparent selection process for the party’s standard bearer in the May 2004 elections.

"I’m afraid that these dictatorial actions of Angara will torpedo any hope for a fair, honest and transparent selection process which has been the clamor of party members who believe that the LDP should field its own presidential bet instead of scouting for outsiders," Aquino said in a statement.

Aquino cited at least two instances where party officials who openly supported Lacson’s presidential bid have been unilaterally replaced on orders of Angara.

First, he said Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra was relieved as provincial party chairman and replaced by former Taytay town mayor Bucay Rodriguez, who is not even an incumbent.

In Western Visayas, Iloilo Rep. Rolex Suplico was sacked as regional LDP chairman and replaced by former congressmen Allen Quimpo, who is now a member of the ruling Lakas-CMD.

Aquino also cited Angara’s unilateral move to take him and Lacson out of the five-man panel originally tasked to negotiate with other political parties for a possible coalition.

"Instead of a five-man panel, Angara reduced it to a three-man panel composed of himself, Sen. Vicente Sotto and Laguna Rep. Joaquin Chipeco," he said, noting that the two are Angara’s loyal followers.

For his part, Bulacan Rep. Willie Villarama criticized politicians’ support for Poe, saying that they are egging Poe to run because this is the way they can seize power.

"This is very irresponsible and unpatriotic," Villarama said. "FPJ is a good man but these politicians are deceiving the people by offering them the promise that FPJ can solve the country’s problems." — With Paolo Romero