Leftist congressman joins Estrada camp

At least three left-leaning congressmen are bent on running for senator in the 2010 elections and one of them has agreed to join the senatorial ticket of deposed President Joseph Estrada’s political party.

Risa Hontiveros of Akbayan will run under the Liberal Party of Senator Mar Roxas; Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna will join the Nacionalista Party with Senator Manuel Villar as standard-bearer; and Teodoro Casino also of Bayan Muna will align himself with the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino of Estrada.

Hontiveros, Ocampo and Casino will each try to break the jinx that has seen candidates from the left failing to land a Senate seat since 1986.

In the 1987 elections, the leftist Partido ng Bayan fielded a senatorial ticket that included the late journalist Jose Burgos Jr. and lawyer Romeo Capulong, as the underground communist organizations try to bring their struggle to the parliamentary arena. None of them won.

Former Senator Wigberto Tanada, known for his leftist views, ran and won under the Liberal Party.

Other leftist politicians plan to join the senatorial race, such as Reps. Rafael Mariano of Anak-Pawis and Liza Masa of Gabriela, but they are still negotiating with the major political parties.

Liberal Party chairman, former Senate President Franklin Drilon, said the inclusion of Hontiveros in the LP senatorial slate was an offshoot of the alliance between the party and Akbayan.

NP spokesman, former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla, confirmed that Ocampo, a former negotiator of the National Democratic Front, has been chosen as one of the Nacionalista?s senatorial bets.

Estrada handpicked Casi?o to be part of his party’s senatorial ticket.

Sources say this is a reward for Casi?o?s steadfast support for opposition causes, including the filing of a series of impeachment attempts against President Gloria Arroyo.

At the Akbayan?s fourth national congress in Club Filipino, San Juan City, over the weekend, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, LP vice chairman, announced that the party has accepted Hontiveros as a guest senatorial candidate.

“We believe that she is very capable and has strong principles for the position,” Aquino said.

In the same assembly, Akbayan president Ronald Llamas declared his group?s support for the presidential candidacy of Roxas. This makes the Akbayan the first party-list group to endorse a candidate in the 2010 presidential race.

“We need a leader who can push true reforms. And for us in the Akbayan, among all those aspiring to become president, it is only Mar Roxas that we can join in the fight,” Llamas said.

“We chose a candidate who will not compromise with the GMA administration and will not run in 2010 elections through unprincipled political accommodations.”

Upon learning of the endorsement, Roxas issued this statement: “It is time for the political forces that yearn for a progressive Philippines to unite.”

Remulla said the decision to support Ocampo’s senatorial bid was made by NP leaders, led by Villar, after a series of discussions. “There are pros and cons for coalescing with the left. And there are continuing debates within the party on the cost and benefits associated with this move,” he told Standard Today.

NP’s tentative senatorial lineup includes Pia Cayetano, Teofisto Guingona III, Adel Tamano, Remulla, Ocampo, Ariel Querubin, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Butz Aquino.

Also being considered by the party is Ralph Recto who resigned last week as director general of the National Economic and Development Authority and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

The partial list of LP senatorial candidates includes Drilon, Hontiveros, Rosanno Biazon, Cory Quirino and Nereo Acosta.

Included in the PMP lineup are Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Santiago, Gina de Venecia, Sergio Osme?a III, Casino, Aquilino Pimentel III and broadcaster Ted Faylon Etong. –Christine Herrera, Manila Standard Today