Fernando to resign from post to pursue presidential bid

MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando yesterday declared he would resign to pursue his bid for the presidency in the 2010 elections.

“There is no turning back. Definitely I’m resigning soon,” he said.

Fernando hinted he might run as an independent candidate without the blessing of his party Lakas-Kampi-CMD.

Fernando lost to Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro in the selection of the ruling party’s standard-bearer last September.

Teodoro resigned from the Cabinet last week to focus on his presidential campaign. The ruling party has chosen actor-television host Edu Manzano as vice presidential candidate.

Fernando, on the other hand, denied he was earlier asked by Lakas to be Teodoro’s running mate.

Although Fernando did not mention when exactly he would resign as MMDA chief, sources revealed he might tender his resignation at the end of the month, during which he is expected to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) before the deadline at midnight of Dec. 1.

Fernando, a mechanical engineer by profession and a former mayor of Marikina City, said he is much qualified to become the country’s next president.

Sources, on the other hand, revealed Sen. Francis Escudero would be running as an independent vice presidential candidate. – With Delon Porcalla