GMA-Noli team ‘a done deal’

Popular television broadcaster-turned-politician Sen. Noli de Castro has agreed to become the running mate of President Arroyo in the May 2004 elections, two ranking Palace officials announced yesterday.

The two officials separately told The STAR that the formation of the Arroyo-De Castro tandem was prematurely leaked by pro-administration Sen. Ralph Recto to some Batangas provincial leaders in a meeting in Batangas late Friday.

The two senior aides, who are principally involved in campaign preparations for Mrs. Arroyo, said "it will (only) be a matter of days" before the formal announcement of the standard bearers of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party.

The two Palace aides also took note that no less than Lakas-CMD co-chairman Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. had already revealed that the party’s vice presidential bet will be announced on or before Christmas Day.

The same Palace sources said Mrs. Arroyo had already met with Sen. Robert Barbers, one of those being eyed as a possible vice presidential candidate, apparently to inform him of the formation of what has been called the "GMA-Kabayan" tandem.

The sources said Mrs. Arroyo asked Barbers to be the "team captain" of the 12-member senatorial slate of the ruling coalition in next year’s elections.

"He (Barbers) obliged with the wishes of the President when told about De Castro as her chosen running mate," the Palace official said.

Aside from Barbers, the initial batch of candidates for the senatorial slate include former Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Pampanga Gov. Lito Lapid and Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) chairman Ramon Revilla Jr.

De Castro, a former newscaster, topped the May 2001 senatorial election as an independent candidate but later allied himself with pro-administration Senators Recto, Joker Arroyo, Manuel Villar Jr., and Francis Pangilinan, the so-called "Wednesday Group" at the Senate.

One of the Palace officials told The STAR late Friday that a Batangas political leader had informed him that Recto revealed the formation of the final teamup in a meeting in Lipa City.

"D source hu txt me s wid him (Recto) n Lipa," the Palace official said in a text message to The STAR.

"B4 lumabas sa media daw, he (Recto) wanted them, whoever, 2 b d 1st 2 know," the source added.

But in an interview with ABS-CBN Friday night, Recto denied being the source of the information.

"Anyway, let’s respect d denial. Myt not b ryt time pa," the source replied.

Presidential liaison for political affairs Jose Ma. Rufino, however, refused to comment on the disclosure.

Asked if Lakas and the ruling People’s Power Coalition (PPC) would agree to the tandem, Rufino replied: "Yes. (It is a) good tandem and will help add to the administration team-up."

Mrs. Arroyo’s campaign spokesman Michael Defensor said he was "not aware" of any final party decision about the GMA-Kabayan tandem.

"Wala pa naman," Defensor said. "The process of selection for the vice presidential candidate is still continuing."

"What’s important for us is (to pick) someone who can assist her in delivering the agenda that she has been doing like housing, health insurance, and other anti-poverty projects," Defensor said.

Although he has yet to declare his intentions to run for higher public office, De Castro has consistent topped public opinion surveys even before actor Fernando Poe Jr. declared his candidacy.