Loren: Noli won’t run for VP

Sen. Noli de Castro, who has consistently topped opinion surveys for the presidential and vice presidential race, is not running for president next year, Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda said yesterday.

In an interview, Legarda said that she was personally informed by De Castro when she met him the other day that he has no intention to run for vice president either.

Legarda, however, said that it will not be an issue to her if De Castro will be fielded against her in the vice presidential race.

"That’s a non-issue to me because when you engage in political battle that means you are formidable and you have to be ready with that battle. But Noli told me the other day that he is not running. So that is not an issue," Legarda said.

De Castro was out of town yesterday and could not be reached for comment.

Legarda also welcomed the decision of movie actor Fernando Poe Jr. to accept his nomination as standard- bearer of the united opposition under the umbrella of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP), composed of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

"That’s a good and welcome development. I’ve heard that I was one of those mentioned by Mr. Poe as among those he is considering to be his running mate. It’s a big honor for me. An FPJ-Legarda tandem is a big possibility," Legarda said.

She disclosed that she will team up with whoever is carrying a platform that would jibe with her own platform of government in next year’s election.

She said her platform is centered on "education, health and environment."

"The announcement of my decision will be made soon. That will be before New Year," Legarda said.

Poe, at yesterday’s press conference where he announced that he is accepting his nomination as standard-bearer of the KNP, said that aside from Legarda, his short list of possible running mates include Senators Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Gregorio Honasan and former senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III, spokesman for Poe, said that among the four, only Honasan is a member of the LDP.

Sotto has consistently said that Legarda has been on top of Poe’s list.

Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur Rep. Benasing Macarambon, a former commander of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), said having a vice president who hails from Mindanao is the key to achieving a lasting peace in the region.

Macarambon said among the many vice presidential aspirants, only Pimentel and Sen. Robert Barbers come from Mindanao. He said whoever wins in next year’s polls, the next vice president must play an active role in seeking a lasting peace for Mindanao.

"A fellow Mindanaoan vice president will be an advantage because the rebels will deal with him, knowing that both parties have a common denominator and that is their place of birth and concerns," he said.

Macarambon is among the 25 congressmen from the Nationalist People’s Coalition who signed a covenant supporting President Arroyo’s bid to seek a full six-year term in the 2004 elections.

He said among Mrs. Arroyo’s possible running mates, only Barbers has the advantage of being a Mindanaoan, well-liked by most political leaders in Mindanao and has earned the respect of members of the MNLF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Macarambon said it is an open secret that in many parts of Mindanao, political and rebel leaders can commit votes because of their influence over their constituents.

"These leaders base their decision on the qualification, experience and most of all, if they know the candidate can genuinely help them in their problems and concerns," he said.

Macarambon also debunked reports quoting Sen. Ralph Recto that an Arroyo-De Castro tandem was a done deal.

"With all due respect to Recto and the rest of the so-called Wednesday Group, they are all newly elected senators with an assurance of a six-year term," he said. "Whoever wins in 2004 is not important to them."

Macarambon said congressmen and local officials are running for re-election and a solid backbone for the national slate is important to them in the coming elections.

"We have to campaign and support a ticket that is reflective of our legislative and executive agenda for our constituents in Mindanao," he said, adding that he is confident that the ruling coalition will come up with a viable choice for Mrs. Arroyo’s running mate. — With Paolo Romero