Lakas-CMD: No plans yet for 2010 presidential polls

The ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) has yet to discuss who will be its standard bearer for the 2010 presidential elections, the spokesman for the political party said Saturday.

Former congressman Prospero Pichay said that though some party members have already expressed interest in running for president, the matter remains to be discussed at the moment.

He added that Lakas-CMD is strengthening its base at present in order to choose the right presidential contender.

Bayani Fernando,chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., were reportedly among the Lakas members eyeing the presidency in 2010.

Though Vice-President Noli de Castro is not an official Lakas member, reports said the ruling party might consider him once it selects its official bet.

Meanwhile, Lakas welcomed the desire of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay to run in 2010 elections.

Binay, the president of the United Opposition, is being considered the "darkhorse" in the next national polls, similar to US president-elect Barack Obama.

Lakas stalwart Heherson Alvarez, however shot down the comparison.

Alvarez pointed out that Obama won because he is perceived to be the “agent of change.”

Binay, on the other hand, is an ally of former president Joseph Estrada who was removed from office due to corruption allegations, Alvarez added.

MMDA chair named ‘Celebrity Duets’ champ

MANILA, Philippines—Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando on Saturday was named grand champion of the reality talent show of non-performers GMA-7’s “Celebrity Duets.”

In the final episode, Fernando sang impressive duets with Pilita Corrales and Basil Valdez to bag the tilt’s second season plum. He got the biggest number of SMS votes from viewers to take home the title first won by Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Tessa Prieto-Valdes in 2007.

The politician, a former mayor of Marikina City, had beaten actor-comedian Joey Marquez and fashion designer JC Buendia in Saturday’s finals night in the GMA-7 studios. inquirer.net

Palace names choices for president

MANILA, Philippines -- Despite his consistent high rating in polls, Vice President Noli de Castro is not the only choice of Malacañang for president in the 2010 national elections, an official said Saturday.

Apart from De Castro, Malacañang's choices also include Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Senator Richard Gordon, Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte.

"They are the administration's choices. But we will have to await who the President will anoint,'' Cerge Remonde, Presidential Management Staff chief, said in a phone interview.

For now, the President has refused to discuss the 2010 elections, opting to focus on contingency measures against the global financial crunch.

De Castro was the top recommended successor to the President in May 2010, gaining 29 percent of the respondents, according to the third quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations.

He was closely followed by Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. (28 percent) and Senator Loren Legarda (26 percent).

Earlier, in an interview over the government-run Radyo ng Bayan, Remonde made special mention of Teodoro, a member of Congress before he was appointed to the top defense post.

"One whom we feel is a presidential timber, apart from Vice President De Castro, is of course Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. He's showing interest,'' he said. "We will not be surprised if his name will be floated as a presidential candidate.''

Of the five, only Fernando has declared he would run for President in 2010.

Remonde also disclosed he was convincing Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, wife of Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto, to run for vice president in May 2010.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza on Friday shrugged off the results of the SWS survey, saying the President was more focused on contingency measures against the global financial crisis.

"They are not too significant to us because the President is focused on good governance, addressing needs of the nation especially in time of crisis so we can weather the storm,'' he said.

Dureza, however, said that the SWS results showing that one percent of the respondents recommended Arroyo to succeed herself was interesting.

"We don't want to find significance in that. We are more concerned with governance but it is interesting if you would ask me,'' he told reporters. inquirer.net