‘ABS-CBN connection to doom de Castro, Legarda’

With a day to go before deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando said yesterday he is still inclined to run for the country’s second highest post.

"I can’t simply abandon the idea of running (for vice-president) because I feel the people will soon look for an alternative to the other candidates. And I have to be consistent with my statements. I have something to offer to this country. That is the overpowering consideration in my seeking the vice presidency," Fernando told The STAR yesterday.

He said he is not afraid of competing with Senators Noli de Castro and Loren Legarda, running mates of Mrs. Arroyo and movie actor Fernando Poe Jr.

The two were both ABS-CBN talents before they entered politics and are immensely popular with TV-viewing Filipinos.

Fernando explained that their association with the Lopez family, which owns the ABS-CBN network and controls Meralco, "is beginning to dawn on the people" and would be "a disadvantage to their vice presidential bids."

The public has expressed outrage against Meralco for the controversial purchase power adjustment and the imposition of a new round of power rate increases right after refunding its excess charge to consumers worth billions of pesos, he observed.

Moreover, Fernando said both De Castro and Legarda have already "overused their popularity."

He also expressed confidence that realignments among politicians would work in his favor in the forthcoming elections.

Fernando disclosed that he is still trying to decide whether to accept the offer of opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson to be his running mate, although he said two other presidential aspirants, former education secretary Raul Roco and Bro. Eddie Villanueva, are still inviting him to be their running mate.

"I think Mr. Aquino is just a temporary candidate," Fernando said, referring to Roco’s running mate, former Tarlac congressman Herminio Aquino.

"I could run as an independent or a running mate of either of the three. Puede rin namang kakampi ko sila lahat (It’s also possible that the three will be on my side)," Fernando said, noting that running as an independent and operating his own political machinery will not be a problem as organizing is his forte.

He said he would mainly bank on the support of "the good people" for his campaign.

"I’ll put in some money for the campaign but I won’t prostitute myself, be deep in debt, then sell myself to the devil," Fernando stressed.

He said he would be running under the platform of good governance and getting things done. His focus would be on human settlements and the building of 10 cities around highly urbanized cities all over the country, such as Metro Manila, Metro Davao and Metro Cebu.

Fernando, who served as Marikina mayor for nine years, was credited for transforming the city from being the so-called rape capital into a rising industrial local government unit.