FPJ expected to name running mate next week

Action star Fernando Poe Jr. will name his vice presidential running mate next week, Sen. Edgardo Angara said yesterday.

"Mr. Poe’s running mate will be known by the public within a week," he told reporters at the Commission on Elections in Manila, where he asked for the extension of the deadline for filing certificates of candidacy from Jan. 5 to Jan. 31.

Angara said the executive committee of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) will present to Poe a shortlist of vice presidential hopefuls.

"We leave it to our presidential candidate to make the final choice and make the announcement. FPJ will do the announcement and it is completely within his decision," he said.

Angara is a member of the KNP as representative of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, which he heads.

On the other hand, Sen. Loren Legarda said she will soon file her certificate of candidacy for vice president.

"First I will make my official declaration soon within the Christmas season, when I already have decided as to who will be my running mate," she said.

"My announcement will be made before Dec. 29, where Mr. Poe was reportedly scheduled to file his candidacy."

Next week is the right time for her to make the announcement, she added.

Meanwhile, Angara said he welcomes the decision of Bishop Eddie Villanueva, head of the Jesus is Lord Church, to join the presidential derby next year.

"There are some good things to be served by Bro. Eddie Villanueva," he said.

"He is really very concerned over the rampant graft and corruption in the country. I’ve heard him talk over the radio, where he said that it’s not a matter of running, but a matter of fighting graft and corruption that convinced him to run."

Angara said Villanueva’s decision to seek the presidency would take some votes from President Arroyo because his supporters include Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and former President Fidel Ramos, who are stalwarts of the pro-administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats.

"He may also take votes from the masses because his supporters come from the masses," he said.

On the other hand, Senate President Franklin Drilon said the Liberal Party, of which he is chairman, is consulting its national executive council as to who to endorse for president next May.

"Shortly, we should be able to make a decision as to who we will endorse as a presidential candidate," he said.

Drilon said the membership committee headed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan examined last night the "strength" of each province in the country.

"The result is that we will be fielding governors, vice governors, board members, congressmen, mayors, vice mayors and councilors in every city, municipality and province in the country," he said.

"We are confident that the LP will be a party to reckon with in the coming elections. And that we will be able to complete our line-up in each and every province."

Drilon said the LP candidates will forge local alliances in certain areas in the country as part of the realities of local politics.

"This we will accept as a reality in the local level," he said. "So, we are prepared to participate and do battle in the forthcoming May 2004 elections."

The LP will support the vice presidential running mate of whoever the party will endorse for president, he added.– Jose Rodel Clapano