Puno keen on vice president bid

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno told newsmen here that he is definitely running for vice president under the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD party in 2010.

Puno, who was Kampi national president, said he is running for the advancement and empowerment of local government units (LGUs), from the barangay to municipal and provincial levels.

Puno told The STAR that he will continue the advocacy of good governance among LGUs, which he said are the national government’s front for effective, better and efficient governance.

“Without the barangays, our national agenda for peace and development is nothing because they are the ones closer to the people. There is really a continuing need for sustaining empowerment of different local government units in this country,” he said.

Puno was here Wednesday as guest speaker of the third Caraga Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) held at the Butuan City Hall.

He also inaugurated the first Women and Children Protection Center of the Caraga regional police.

Later in the afternoon, the DILG chief proceeded to Cabadbaran in Agusan del Norte to attend the State of the Province Address of Gov. Erlpe John Amante.

In the evening, Puno attended Agusan del Norte’s Barangay Night where all barangay and municipal officials of the province were present.

Kiko woos voters in Vizcaya, Ifugao

Another contender for the country’s No. 2 post, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, recently wooed voters in Nueva Vizcaya and neighboring Ifugao province to rally behind him in the May 2010 elections.

Pangilinan reiterated during a visit to Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya his bid for the vice presidency and urged first-time voters and those not yet registered to cast their ballot in 2010.

Pangilinan said he was certain that the idealism of the youth would push them to make an intelligent choice for the various electoral posts that he and other idealistic politicians like him provide.

“We believe that the youth will not be beguiled by the wiles of old-style politics of patronage and push for a vision of a progressive country,” Pangilinan said during a series of forums sponsored by the “Register and Vote” or “Rock the Vote Campaign” which the independent senator launched.

The senator, who called himself an independent Liberal Party maverick, said his running for vice president next year was not necessarily with the LP ticket or anybody else in the opposition, and definitely not with the administration.

“There are certain matters with which I am not totally in agreement with the present LP leadership,” said Pangilinan, who ran as an independent during the last elections.

He said he hopes that an independent slate of reform-minded politicians would be formed.

During a stopover, Pangilinan and his group met with students and faculty members of PLT College, where he also called on his audience to oppose moves to convert the House of Representatives into a constituent assembly.

Pangilinan and his group, including Akbayan party-list Rep. Rissa Hontiveros-Baraquel, later proceeded to Lagawe, Ifugao for another forum, where Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio, Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca and Ifugao Gov. Teodoro Baguilat, all key members of the group Kaya Natin!, were waiting for them.

Sharon’s role

Although acknowledging the huge role that his wife, megastar Sharon Cuneta, whom he called his political weapon, had played in past electoral races, Pangilinan stressed that his vice presidential bid does not solely depend on being married to the hugely popular movie star.

“I don’t begrudge myself being married to a famous movie actress beloved by the masses. But I think my depending on Sharon’s popularity without any effort on my part concerning good governance as a legislator would not assure my winning,” he said.

Pangilinan stressed that voters should pick him for his track record in the Senate, calling Sharon’s contributions to his electoral campaigns as “synergistic” and adding to his winning chances.

“But one thing which the 2007 elections have shown is that popularity alone is not enough to make one win,” he said.

As to his potential political group members, Pangilinan said, “We have many independent-minded and idealistic men and women who could be a part of this line-up,” referring to Panlilio, Padaca, Baguilat and Hontiveros. – With Charlie Lagasca