Lakas drafts Senate slate for 2010 but no presidential, VP bets yet

The pro-administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats is already drawing up a list of senatorial candidates for the 2010 elections.

Raul Lambino, Lakas spokesman, said yesterday the 12 senatorial candidates would be chosen from a field of at least 30 potential aspirants.

Among the names being floated are Deputy Speakers Raul del Mar and Simeon Datumanong, Majority Leader Arthur Defensor, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, and Representatives Eduardo Zialcita of Parañaque, Milagros Magsaysay of Zambales, and Prospero Nograles of Davao City.

Former Surigao del Sur lawmaker Prospero Pichay Jr. would most likely make another run for the Senate under the Lakas ticket, Lambino said.

Pichay lost in his first senatorial bid in the May 2007 elections as part of the administration’s Team Unity ticket.

Del Mar, Defensor, Zialcita, and Nograles are now on their third and last terms at the House of Representatives.

Ray Roquero, Lakas executive director, said the names being floated are just part of a wish list.

“Nothing is final,” he said. “The coming elections are still more than two years away.”

However, it is possible that Lakas might discuss its possible presidential, vice presidential and senatorial candidates in its national executive board meeting on Feb. 6-7 at the Manila Hotel, Roquero said.

Two names have been mentioned as possible Lakas presidential candidate: Belmonte and Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority.

Fernando has said he is available to be his party’s standard-bearer, while Belmonte has not commented on the issue.

Other Lakas stalwarts want to draft as their presidential candidate Vice President Noli de Castro, who does not belong to any political party.

As of last count, the opposition has six candidates, excluding ousted President Joseph Estrada, who has expressed his intention to retake the presidency. 

Meanwhile, Senators Revilla and Juan Miguel Zubiri downplayed reports that the leave of absence of presidential son Pampanga Rep. Mikey Arroyo has created a stir among Lakas leaders and members.

In a statement, Zubiri said Lakas is pushing through with a party convention next month as agreed upon in a meeting among top party leaders, including former President Fidel Ramos.

“We want the full attendance of our leaders who are always fully-booked months ahead,” he said.

“If President Arroyo is absent in the convention, it may be misconstrued that Speaker De Venecia is trying to isolate or undermine the President.”

Revilla said in a statement that Lakas remains the strongest political party in the country despite reports that the party is experiencing financial troubles.

“It has the highest number of members elected in the Lower House and also the highest number of local officials,” he said.

Lakas party remains one of the most formidable parties in 2010 despite reports that it has no strong candidate for president, Revilla said. – With Christina Mendez