Erap eyes Gina de Venecia to be among opposition senatorial candidates

MANILA, Philippines - Former President Joseph Estrada yesterday said he is considering Gina de Venecia, wife of Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., to be among the opposition’s senatorial candidates in the 2010 elections.

In a telephone interview with The STAR, Estrada said Mrs. De Venecia is highly qualified to get a slot in the Senate. “There is no final decision yet. But she is one of those being considered for the opposition’s senatorial candidates in 2010,” Estrada said.

Aside from Mrs. De Venecia, other names being considered in the opposition’s senatorial slate are Agapito “Butz” Aquino, brother of the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., former senator Sergio Osmeña, Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile, Party-list Rep. Teddy Casiño, radio broadcaster Ted Failon, Fernando Poe Jr.’s daughter Grace Poe-Llamanzares and United Opposition (UNO) spokesman lawyer Adel Tamano.

Estrada and De Venecia both ran for president in the 1998 presidential elections where the former won by a landslide victory. Mrs. De Venecia has joined the former president in the continuation of his “Lakbay Pasasalamat” in Cebu City.

“Surely, Adel Tamano and Grace Poe will be among those sure senatorial candidates of the opposition in 2010,” Estrada said.

“My husband and President Estrada ran against each other in the 1998 Presidential elections. But I thanked President Estrada because our friendship has never been injected with politics and we remained friends until now,” Mrs. De Venecia said.

UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and Carmen, Cebu Mayor Sonia Pua also joined the former president in the motorcade.

Estrada’s group was cheered by Cebuanos as they passed along the towns of Carmen, Compostela, Liloan and Consolacio on board a vintage World War II “MacArthur” type jeepney.                                    – Jose Rodel Clapano