Makati rally a virtual political sortie for 2010 ‘presidentiables’

MANILA, Philippines - The massive anti-Charter change rally in Makati City on Friday appeared to be an early campaign sortie for "presidentiables" in the upcoming 2010 elections, a radio report said.

In a report, dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo said potential presidential aspirants Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, Sen. Loren Legarda and Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero were present at the rally.

Former President Joseph Estrada - who had earlier said he might make another presidential run in 2010 - was also briefly present in the rally but had to cut his participation to attend to his ailing mother.

Organizers earlier said they will allow key political figures - presidentiables included - to have a three-minute speaking time during the rally program which is expected to extend up to 9 p.m.

In the rally, supporters of Binay - who, in November announced that he will be running for president in 2010 - were stationed close to the stage, some on them were even carrying banners saying, "Binay for President!"

Meanwhile, Legarda's supporters, mostly women, were identified with their uniform white shirts bearing Legarda's name.

Escudero, who is regarded as another possible presidential candidate, was not able to escape fanfare as several women fans flocked to him and planted kisses on his cheek and took pictures with him.

"Nakakatuwang makita na magkakalaban man sila sa darating na eleksyon, sama- sama sila para tutulan ang Cha-cha... iba-iba man ang kanilang partido, ang kanilang paniniwala... nagkakaisa sila laban sa Cha-cha," the report quoted Escudero as saying.

Escudero also expressed confidence that moves in the congress pushing for Charter change will not prosper without the Senate's nod.

"Liwanagin ng Kamara ang kanilang posisyon. Gusto ba talaga nilang balewalain ang Senado o hindi? Kaya ba nilang makapasa ng bill na hindi kasama ang Senado? Hindi nila kayang gawin yun (The Lower House should state their position. Do they really want to ignore the Senate or not? Do they think they could pass a bill without the Senate's approval? They can not do that)," Escudero said. gmanews.tv

Chiz: There'll be elections in 2010

BUTUAN CITY – Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Charter change to extend the term of President Arroyo is already dead as far as the Senate is concerned and the presidential elections in 2010 would take place.

Escudero hinted that seven politicians, mostly from the opposition, would seek the presidency.

But if former President Joseph Estrada succeeds in his unity talks among the opposition, “then it will be narrowed down to two,” he said.

Malacañang said that it sees no reason why the 2010 national elections would not push through, adding that it had nothing to do with the efforts to amend the Constitution.

“The President has always been focused on the economy and planning how to help the people,” Presidential Management Staff Director General Cerge Remonde told radio station dzRB.

Escudero, meanwhile, asked Estrada to identify first who among the present crop of opposition leaders are genuine oppositionists before embarking into unity talks with them.

In a news conference in Surigao City, Escudero said it is important for Estrada to identify who among the current list of presidential hopefuls really belong to the opposition.

He was reacting to Estrada’s statement that he would be forced to seek the presidency in 2010 if the opposition fails to come up with a unified standard bearer.

Escudero refused to confirm if he would join the race, saying he would make a decision when he reaches the required age of 40 on Oct. 10, 2009.

As of now, Escudero said he is not yet qualified to run for president, but would make an announcement on his 40th birthday whether he would run for president or vice president.

He said though he really wants to run while he is young so that he would not be likened to an old, mature and traditional politician “who entered politics like a lamb but retired with seven horns.”

“I like to run now because if I wait until I’m older like them then I would be no different from a trapo (traditional politician),” Escudero said in Filipino.

Escudero, however, hinted that he finds it uncomfortable running, if ever, with Sen. Loren Legarda who he said is not “so opposition” because she was an administration bet in her first election to the Senate.

He said Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay of the United Opposition (UNO), who has signified his intention to seek the presidency in 2010, is the real opposition but would not make a good copycat of US President-elect Barack Obama.

“If the US elected a young president, why can’t the Philippines?” he asked.

He, however, noted the disparity between American and Filipino voters especially in terms of contributing funds to a political campaign.

Escudero said with the exception of Binay and himself, who were with the opposition from the start, other presidentiables who are in the opposition are not genuine.

He said many would like to run under the opposition banner in the 2010 elections because they would have a stronger chance of winning due to the negative popularity rating of President Arroyo.

Erap’s body language

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday said he believes Estrada’s body language shows that he is preparing to run for president in 2010.

He said Estrada “really has intentions to run and he is using this (disunity of the presidentiables) as an excuse.”

But Gonzalez said Estrada’s intention to seek the presidency anew would go against certain conditions of his executive pardon, aside from violating the constitutional provision prohibiting a former president from running again.

“So if there was such a thing (referring to one of the clauses in the executive pardon where Estrada agreed not to participate in any election in exchange for the grant of executive clemency), that could be a violation. But I don’t think we should be concerned about that. We should be concerned about what the Constitution says,” he said. philstar.com

Villar clears Estrada in his ouster

TUBLAY, Benguet -- Senator Manuel Villar on Saturday absolved former President Joseph Estrada of any blame for his ouster as Senate president.

"Wala akong comment dyan. Si Erap ay nananatiling isa kong kaibigan, hanggang ngayon (I have no comment about that. Erap remains my friend)," he said here as guest of the town's 108th founding anniversary.

"I respect him as a friend. I have no bad feelings for him," he added.

Villar took a dig at his colleagues in the Senate using this town's cool climate.

He said: "Mabuti rito, malamig. Sa Manila mainit. Kaya maraming mainit ang ulo. Gaya sa Senado, marami ding mainit and ulo (It's good here. The climate is cool. It's hot in Manila. So many people are hot-headed, as in the Senate.)"

Villar said he will now focus on his campaign for livelihood and the welfare of overseas Filipino workers.

But in La Trinidad town, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano minced no words in saying that politics was behind Villar's ouster. Cayetano said there would be more politics and less work as the 2010 presidential election nears.

"I hope that all the 'presidentiables' would be true to their promises to work first for the people and not prioritize politics," he said. "It's only 2008."

These "presidentiables," he said, conspired to work against Villar.

"Let's accept that but let us use, at least the next year, to really focus on how we can help our country especially on the effects of the economic crisis rather than all politics," he said.

He said people expected the Senate to set aside politics and work harder after Villar's ouster and not for aspiring presidents to be training their guns on each other.

Now free of his tasks as Senate president, Villar lived up to his word to make use of his time to work on his presidential campaign.

On Saturday here, Villar retold his rags-to-riches story, the same line he used when he first ran for the Senate.

Still smarting from the Senate coup, Villar said his poor and humble beginnings and his climb to success gave him enough experience to know what the country needed to progress.

He said he harbored no ill feelings over his removal from the Senate leadership, the third highest position in the land.

"It's okay. Sa mga bagay na ganyan, sanay na tayo dyan. Marami na tayong pinagdaanan na hirap sa buhay at yung mga ganito ay sanay na tayo at tanggap na natin (We're used to these things. We've overcome hardships and we can easily accept this)," he said.

Local officials though welcomed him with a banner that addressed him as Senate president. His aides distributed cardboard fans with text explaining his anti-poverty advocacy.

He later joined provincial officials led by Governor Nestor Fongwan at the Benguet Sports Center in Wangal, La Trinidad, for the "grand cañao" (a native feast) marking the province's 108th founding anniversary and the Adivay, a cultural festival.

Villar said his life of poverty had given him enough experience to know what Filipinos need.

Later asked if his speech signaled the beginning of his presidential campaign, he said: "E, ngayon, game na. Game na game na, (Now, it's game time; I'm ready)."

"But we are more serious this time," he added.

Villar said he wanted to step up his campaign and work on his advocacy for the welfare of overseas Filipino workers since he has more time now.

"Now that I have more time, I will be visiting more often places with OFWs and I will not stop until such time that their lives would improve," he said. inquirer.net

Binay embarks on 3-day tour of Quezon province

MANILA, Philippines - In what seemed a prelude to a campaign for the 2010 polls, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay embarked on a three-day visit to Quezon province to announce his presidential bid.

A radio report said Thursday that Binay, who is also the president of the United Opposition, arrived in Quezon on Wednesday “to reach out to the masses" and would be staying there until Friday.

A radio dzXL report said that upon his arrival, Binay immediately signed a memorandum of agreement with the local officials in the province, declaring the cities of Makati and Lucena as “sister cities."

During his trip, Binay announced his intention to battle it out in the 2010 presidential elections.

The radio report quoted officials from the province’s 33 municipalities as welcoming the Makati mayor’s announcement.

On his second day in Quezon, Binay dropped by a public market in Lucena City and even had breakfast at an eatery there.

Aside from Lucena City, Binay also visited Tayabas City and the towns of Tiaong, Candelaria, and Lucban.

Binay had also participated in a public consultation with locals from different sectors in the province.

During the consultation, Binay boasted of the achievements of the Makati City government under his term.

Former President Joseph Estrada had already said Binay was “qualified" to become a president, but clarified that the UNO has yet to determine its standard bearer for the upcoming polls.

“Malaki ang paghanga ko kay Binay dahil nagawa niyang premiere city ang Makati," Estrada said in a radio interview on Thursday, citing health and education benefits being enjoyed both by children and elderly.

“Alagang-alaga niya ang kabataan, senior citizens, and peace and order. Talagang mahal na mahal iyan ng mga taga-Makati," Estrada said. gmanews.tv

RP’s Obama? Binay declares presidential bid

Makati City Mayor Jejomar “Jojo” Binay yesterday announced his plans to join the 2010 presidential race.

Comparing himself to US President-elect Barack Obama, Binay boldly announced his intentions before a crowd celebrating his 66th birthday at the Makati City Hall yesterday.

Binay vowed to lead a voters’ revolution and save the Philippines, which he branded an “orphan country,” from a “step-President.”

Binay said the voters’ revolution will install a government that will restore “the people’s dignity, give priority to health care and education, look after the elderly, and promote transparency and accountability in government.”

“Four years ago, our beloved Philippines was orphaned by fraud. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, under the most dubious electoral conditions, ascended to the presidency. And the nightmare of the step-President and the orphan nation began,” he declared.

Binay began his acceptance speech with a litany against Mrs. Arroyo and the administration, which he claimed had made Filipinos poorer and more hungry.

“Today you formally ask me to lead you towards the victory of our revolution – a revolution that will install a government that will redeem our people’s dignity by making our economy work. And I mean, really work – so that every time the numbers on the economic charts go upward, so will the food on our tables be in greater abundance,” Binay declared.

Binay joined the list of early presidential favorites that includes Vice President Noli de Castro, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr., Senators Manuel Roxas, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Francis Escudero, Jesus is Lord founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando.

Former President Joseph Estrada, on the other hand, vouched for Binay, saying the Makati mayor has an excellent track record.

Estrada said Binay has proven himself as chief executive of the country’s premier financial district.
According to Estrada, Binay is among his “favorites.”

“He is one of the favorites in terms of his capability and experience as the chief executive of the central business district in our country. He has the edge over the other presidentiables in the opposition because of his experience in local governance,” he said.

Binay has been in the national scene as one of the critics of the administration since he is the president of the United Opposition (UNO). He is also one of Estrada’s closest friends and allies.

Estrada said Binay has an edge over Villar, Lacson, Roxas, Legarda, and Escudero since the senators have no experience in local governance.

Estrada, however, did not say if Binay would the anointed one to lead the opposition to victory in the 2010 polls.

The former president said he would only be the last option. “As I have said many times, I will only run if the opposition cannot unite behind a single candidate,” Estrada said.

Qualified

Villar, for his part, conceded Binay is good presidential material but he refused to comment if the Makati mayor is a threat to his political ambition.

He said Binay is a “very qualified person” to run as president, just like anybody else.

“But eventually, it is the Filipino people who would decide who becomes president,” Villar added.

Villar also downplayed the possibility of a divided opposition after Binay openly declared his intention to run in the 2010 presidential elections.
On the other hand, Lacson wished Binay good luck.

“I wish him luck, sincerely,” he said. “Everybody has the capability to become president.”

Escudero, for his part, said: “My wish for Mayor Binay is for his birthday wish to come true.”

Escudero though skirted the issue on his plans for 2010.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said he was surprised over Binay’s announcement.

“I thought he was running for vice (president) or senator. I did not expect it. But I think Mayor Binay is very qualified and he is a very kind man. His heart also goes for the poor. I think he is also sincere,” he said.

With Binay joining the race, the younger Estrada said UNO has not reached a consensus on who will be the opposition’s standard-bearer for 2010.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., chairman of the PDP-Laban that has Binay as party president, also expressed confidence on the Makati mayor’s ability to become president.

“Mayor Binay will be another candidate coming from the ranks of the opposition. So in the end, we have to sit down to determine who should be the stardard bearer,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel doused speculations that Binay’s announcement has derailed further the hopes of Estrada’s dream for the political opposition to throw full support behind a single candidate in 2010.

He expressed hope that members of the opposition will later sit down to support a lone presidential bet.

“In politics, anything is possible. I am quite optimistic,” Pimentel said.

Among the candidates from the political opposition, Pimentel said Binay is the lone candidate that has established presence and contacts among local government officials.

Pimentel noted supporters have branded Binay as the Philippines’ version of Obama.

‘Spoiler’

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, for her part, said she might consider running “just to be a spoiler.”

“Well, make me angry enough, and I will run for president just to prove a point, just to be a spoiler,” Santiago said with a laugh.

Santiago added she wanted to prove before the world that she is an effective state leader, especially after losing her bid for a seat in the International Court of Justice.

But first, Santiago said, she would have to check her “Swiss bank account” to scrounge around for P3 billion to finance her campaign.

Santiago said she wanted to become an ICJ judge to try a different field, as Philippine politics has become too boring for her.

She said seeking another term in the Senate could be an option, but the idea already makes her yawn.

Santiago said she was so bored with politics that she “wants to buy a mountain and live on top of it” to completely get away from it all.

Malacañang, however, cautioned presidential aspirants against early politicking since it would distract the nation from addressing the economic difficulties arising from the global financial crisis.

“We expect there will be more politicians to announce intentions to run for the presidency and other positions as well, but it’s too early for us to talk about politics now, especially with present economic crisis we are facing,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said.

“We believe there are more important matters to deal with. I don’t want to comment on it for now,” she said.

Fajardo said it would be better if the people see the country’s political leaders working on economic programs that “would benefit them everyday and sustaining programs to make their lives better.”

When asked if Malacañang considers Binay a serious contender, she said: “I’m sorry I cannot comment on the Binay issue any further.”

“He (Binay) has the right to run for office. For that matter, anybody has the right if he or she feels they have a chance and is qualified and wants to serve the country,” Fajardo said.

She added the “public should be smart enough to see the quality of leaders that we want in the future.” philstar.com

RP's 'Barack', Jojo Binay, declares presidential bid

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay has thrown his hat into the 2010 presidential race amid calls from supporters in Zamboanga urging him to rise up to the challenge of becoming the country's next president.

Binay's declaration was made Tuesday morning at Makati City Hall during ceremonies to mark his 66th birthday.

"Handa akong tanggapin ang hamon ng ating mga kasamahan (I'm ready to accept our people's challenge). I'm available as a candidate for president," he said.

Binay added that his decision is entirely based on words of encouragement he has been receiving from all over.

"I'm available and this is response to the clamor I have been receiving," he said.

Asked if his declaration had been given blessings by former president Joseph Estrada, the opposition's titular head, Binay said: "Tungkol kay Pangulong Erap, antabayanan na lang natin kung ano ang kanyang magugustuhan (Let's just wait for President Erap's opinion)."

Binay, who is president of the United Opposition, has served for 19 years as the central business district's chief executive.

He said that should he push through with his candidacy, he would run under the banner of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban).

Political observers have said that Binay, like US president-elect Barack Obama, could be a "dark horse" in the next presidential elections.

For one, Binay has been called by some commentators as the Philippines' "Jo-bama" (short for Jojo-Obama), due to his dark complexion.

He said Obama's victory is a wake-up call for the Arroyo government since it reflects voters' cry for reforms and change amid bad governance.

Binay said the 2010 presidential elections will likely reflect Filipino voters' demand for change and good governance.

The Makati mayor's supporters in Zamboanga Peninsula, meanwhile, have openly declared their support for Binay's presidential run.

On Monday, at least 40 members of various civic and private organizations in the region gathered in Zamboanga City to sign a manifesto to urge Binay to consider running for president in 2010.

Jericho Bustamante, regional head for "Binay Na!", however, clarified that their movement aims to gather opinion and suggestions from different sectors int he region. He said that this is not an advanced political campaign for Binay.

Bustamante said that whatever Binay did and can do for Makati, he could also duplicate for the entire Philippines. He added that Binay is the only potential candidate for the presidency who sits in an executive position as of the moment. The rest are policy makers. abs-cbnnews.com

Binay qualified to seek presidency in 2010 - Erap

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada on Tuesday said Mayor Jejomar Binay’s performance as Makati City’s chief executive indicates he has the capacity to run the country in the future.

"Si Mayor Binay din naman ay may kapasidad, may abilidad. Napakita ni Mayor Binay yung kanyang kakayahan bilang chief executive ng premier city ng Pilipinas (Mayor Binay has the capacity and the ability. He has shown this as the chief executive of the country’s premier city)," Estrada said in an interview over QTV’s Balitanghali.

Earlier in the day, Binay declared his presidential bid for the 2010 elections during the celebrations of his 66th birthday at the Makati City Hall.

Binay is included in UNO’s (United Opposition) bench of "presidentiables." The Makati City mayor said he will accept it if UNO will not field him as their standard bearer. Binay is UNO president.

Estrada, however, said UNO has yet determine its standard bearer for the 2010 polls.

"Sa ngayon, wala pa tayong napipili. Kung sino ang nakikita nating pinakamalakas, yun ang pipiliin natin. Siguro mga one year before o less than a year before the elections malalaman na natin kung sinong nangunguna sa survey,' Estrada said.

(As of now, we haven’t picked a standardbearer. We would probably pick the one we deem to be the strongest contender. I think that a year before or less than a year before the elections, the surveys will show who the top presidential picks are.)

Estrada added he hopes the opposition will unite to boost their chances in winning in the 2010 elections. He said the UNO can learn from the recently concluded United States elections where Democrat Senator Barack Obama emerged victorious.

"Sana magkaisa ang opposisyon para masiguro ang panalo ng opposisyon. Sa nakaraang eleksyon ay apat-apat ang kumandidato, kaya madaling nadaya. Mukhang nangyari nung 2004 eleksyon, pinaghiwahiwalay ang mga boto ni FPJ [Fernando Poe Jr] at nagdagdag-bawas pa," Estrada said.

(I hope the opposition unites to ensure our win. We had four candidates in the last elections that’s why we were easily cheated. FPJ’s votes were reduced and I believe there was vote-padding and vote-slashing.)

Last week, UNO spokesperson Lawyer Adel Tamano said the opposition will try to field a single candidate for next elections in an effort to “emulate" the US election system where during the primaries, Democrats and Republicans vote for a single standard-bearer for the general elections.

Tamano added that President-elect Obama serves as their inspiration as his victory proves that it is possible to stand up against “the machinery and the money of the powerful." gmanews.tv