Fernando to run for Senate?

MANILA, Philippines - Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando is reportedly mulling the possibility of running for a Senate seat under the Nacionalista Party, led by standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar, sources said yesterday.

“The only options left to him are either to slide down to the vice presidency or be a candidate for the Senate,” said a source close to Fernando.

Fernando earlier said he was bent on running for the presidency as an independent candidate, having “informally” left the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition.

It was earlier rumored that Fernando was considering being the running mate of Sen. Richard Gordon.

Fernando was given a “sendoff” by his staff and workers at the MMDA office in Makati City yesterday afternoon.

According to a member of his staff, Fernando will file his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Monday. A source said Fernando will decide over the weekend which elective post he will seek.

“He wants the filing of his COC done on Monday, being Bonifacio Day, a day for a bayani (hero),” an insider said.

Fernando’s successor, former Quezon City judge Oscar Inocentes, is expected to formally assume his duties as MMDA chief on Monday.