January 2008 Archives

Estrada issued the statement in response to reporters’ questions on what his criteria was in choosing the standard bearer of the opposition. But at the same time, Estrada refused to name his candidate, saying that all presidential aspirants of the opposition would go through a process of selection that would include a series of three surveys to determine winnability. Earlier in the day in Dinalupihan, Estrada was reported as having hinted that he was going to endorse the candidacy of Senate President Manuel Villar, who was said to be eyeing the presidency.

“I think it’s too early to mess up and confuse the public. It’s all right for them to prepare for their candidacy individually. But to stir up public attention and consciousness about 2010 is bit too early,” he said at the Kapihan sa Senado. “If [the presidential hopefuls] make 2008 a highly politicized year, because it’s already campaign or election mode, they will forget about any reforms of getting through Congress,” he added. Angara said his advice goes for everyone thinking of running for president in the 2010 elections, including Senators Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Manuel Villar, Manuel Roxas II, and even Bayani Fernando, chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

On Monday, the Malacañanag-formed search committee submitted its five nominees to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but refused name them. “[This] lack of transparency is unconstitutional... The people have the right to know who the nominees are,” said Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan. The seven soon to be vacant seats in the poll body are currently being occupied by Resurreccion Borra as acting Comelec chairperson, Commissioners Florentino Tuason, Romeo Brawner, Nicodemo Ferrer, and Rene Sarmiento, and the still-to-be-confirmed Moslemen Macarambon.

Zubiri, whose 12th-place victory in last year’s senatorial election is being contested by Pimentel, said he was certain of serving the entire six years of his term despite what he termed the “mind-conditioning” by his rival in the ongoing recount of votes being conducted by the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET). Zubiri was reacting to Pimentel’s claim that the empty ballot boxes from Sultan Kudarat province negated Zubiri’s 31,000-vote margin in the area, giving Pimentel a 12,000-vote lead over Zubiri in the national tally.

MANILA, Philippines--Senator Manuel Roxas II, who has been reported as the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party in the 2010 elections, has evaded all political questions regarding the presidential polls. At a press conference in Pasay City, Roxas finished off all political questions with a presentation of three items on his legislative agenda: cheaper medicines, removing the value-added tax on petroleum products, and exempting minimum wage earners from paying income tax. “[The elections] is still far off. We need to respond to the everyday needs of Juan Dela Cruz” was his response to questions regarding his presidential bid in 2010, the reported talks between the administration party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and his Liberal Party, and former president Joseph Estrada’s intention to run again in two years.

Estrada said that statements coming from his camp that he would run anew were aimed to challenge the opposition to be united and put up a common candidate in 2010 to ensure the opposition's victory. "Bakit sila matatakot, wala naman akong intensyong tumakbo [Why are they afraid. I have no intension of running]," he said. "I have no intention of running … I want to give chance to young leaders, to their advocacy, their idealism." He said he did not want a repeat of the 2004 presidential race when the opposition had other candidates other than the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. He added he believed 2010 would be an opposition year, more so if they would unite and support a common presidential candidate.