JDV’s wife not running for senator

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. revealed yesterday that his wife Gina is not keen on running for senator in the May 14 elections.

De Venecia, who said he is against political dynasties, told reporters that President Arroyo has offered his wife a slot in the administration ticket, "but she is not inclined to run."

"She feels that she can continue serving our people as a private citizen," he said.

The Speaker recalled that in 1992, then presidential candidate Fidel Ramos tried to draft his wife into his senatorial team but she refused.

Mrs. De Venecia heads the Congressional Spouses Foundation, which has built and is running several centers for the rehabilitation of abused women.

De Venecia said he had in the past tried to dissuade his relatives from seeking elective posts "because I am against political dynasties."

However, there was one election in the past in which his sister ran for mayor in Dagupan City but lost to Benjamin Lim, who had reportedly suspected that she had been fielded by De Venecia.

Lim, who is incumbent mayor, will most likely be the Speaker’s opponent in the congressional race in Pangasinan’s fourth district.

As for the administration’s senatorial ticket, De Venecia said the ruling coalition is still consulting with its party-members.

So far, he said there are two candidates who are sure of slots in the slate — Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Mike Defensor, Mrs. Arroyo’s chief of staff.

Zubiri is the author of the Biofuels Act, which the President signed last week. The law seeks to promote the use of bio-ethanol and bio-diesel.

De Venecia said other potential candidates being considered are Representatives Gilberto Teodoro Jr. of Tarlac, Prospero Pichay Jr. of Surigao del Sur and Prospero Nograles of Davao City. — Jess Diaz, Eva Visperas