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 links ouster move to 2010 polls

MANILA, Philippines - Former Senate President Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr on Monday hinted that the 2010 presidential election was among the reasons why he was voted out of Senate presidency.

Interviewed by Mel Tiangco over GMA’s 24 Oras, Villar however said that his removal from the third highest position in the land would not affect his presidential bid.

"Hindi mahalaga 'yan. Ang mahalaga ay ituloy ang mga trabaho natin [at] pagsisilbi sa bayan (My removal as Senate president is not important. What is important here is that I will continue to work on my advocacies for the public),” he said.

Villar resigned as Senate president Monday afternoon after learning that 14 senators had signed a resolution informing him that he has lost the confidence of the Senate majority.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile replaced Villar.

Without naming names, Villar noted that five of those who voted against him have also expressed intention to run for president in the 2010 polls.

"At nakita mo naman siguro ... na yung limang kandidato sa pagkapangulo ay bumoto (laban) sa akin (As you can see, the five who want to run for president voted against me)," he said.

Those who voted against Villar were Sens. Edgardo Angara, Rodolfo Biazon, Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, Enrile, Francis Escudero, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Ma Ana Consuelo Madrigal, Ramon Revilla Jr, Manuel Roxas and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Those who abstained were Senators Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, Joker Arroyo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pilar Juliana “Pia” Cayetano, Francis Pangilinan and resigned Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago was absent, Villar and Antonio Trillanes IV, who is currently detained, did not vote.

Already an ordinary senator, Villar said he would now have more time in his hands for public service, particularly in his advocacy to help distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"At gusto ko naman sabihin sa ating mga kababayan na tuloy pa rin po ang ating paglilingkod maski na isang regular na Senador na lamang, ay tuloy pa rin po ang ating pagtulong sa OFW, sa mga mahihirap, at sa paggawa ng mag panukala na makakatulong sa ating ekonomiya lalo na’t may krisis ngayon," said Villar.

(“What I want the public to know is that I will continue to serve them even as a regular senator. I will continue helping OFWs, the poor, by crafting bills that would help the economy especially now that we’re facing a financial crisis.”)gmanews.tv

Cayetano: Villar's ouster linked to 2010 elections

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said the switching of support by some senators from Senator Manuel Villar to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile may have been related to the presidential elections in 2010.

“I can’t really speculate, but from the start, the rest of the minority wanted what they call a level playing field for 2010 and some didn’t want Senator Villar,” he said.

Cayetano cited Villar’s leadership style as the possible reason why the Senate president lost the support of his colleagues.

“The controversial order to arrest Mr. Bolante may have also touched some nerves of some of the senators here,” he said.

What is important, according to Cayetano, is for the public to keep its eyes on the Senate and for the Senate to keep its integrity and independence from the executive branch.

He also expressed support for Enrile especially on items which need support.

“Hopefully, he will also respect our roles to be fiscalizers,” said Cayetano.

When asked to identify his colleagues who withdrew support from Villar, Cayetano said they only will be apparent when the new majority distributes the committees.

“Since there are only five or six of us who abstained, I would assume that everyone else supported this move for a new leadership,” said Cayetano.

“Everyone who gets their choice is a part of the new majority. I think it is happening now with Senator Miguel Zubiri at the podium,” referring to Zubiri’s present role as Monday’s acting majority floor leader.

Cayetano said some of the committee chairmen have already given up their posts in accordance with the new leadership.

Among those who reportedly withdrew their support from Villar are Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, and Edgardo Angara.

Meanwhile, a Senate source told abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak said that with Villar moving up in the presidential opinion polls, other senatorial candidates eyeing the presidency would rather see Villar out of the Senate presidency even it means being allied with the pro-administration senators. abs-cbnnews.com