Noynoy top choice among congressmen

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Liberal Party standard-bearer in next year’s elections, has emerged as the top  choice for the presidency among members of the House of Representatives.

Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco told a news forum in Quezon City yesterday that in an “informal survey” he conducted among his colleagues, about 100 prefer Aquino, 50 are inclined to support Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and another 50 would go for Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

Teodoro is the anointed presidential candidate of the ruling Lakas-Kampi which dominates the House, while Villar is candidate of the Nacionalista Party, which he heads.

Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Antonio Cerilles, who belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), said their candidate, Sen. Francis Escudero, was not in Cuenco’s list “because Chiz has yet to declare his candidacy.”

NPC has more than 25 congressmen-members. It is scheduled to announce next month who between Escudero and Sen. Loren Legarda would be its presidential standard-bearer.

Another forum guest, former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., said Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando, who lost the ruling party’s presidential nomination to Teodoro, is still in the running.

Pichay, who sits in the Lakas-Kampi executive committee, said the ruling party is considering Fernando as Teodoro’s running mate.

“He is one of those being considered. I think that once he comes out of meditation, he will join the fray in the selection of our vice presidential candidate,” he said.

Pichay said another politician being considered as Teodoro’s running mate is Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos.

“The vice presidential slot is till up for grabs,” he said.

Last week, the Lakas-Kampi national executive committee voted overwhelmingly for the defense chief as the party’s standard bearer. Fernando obtained only five votes out of the more than 60 members of the panel.

Shortly after the embarrassing outcome of the vote, Fernando said he would study his options but that sliding down to the VP slot was not one of them.

The executive committee also expressed preference for Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno as the defense chief’s vice presidential running mate.

Teodoro said Puno is acceptable to him if the ruling party eventually nominates him.

Soon after, some Lakas leaders floated the name of governor-actress Vilma Santos as a possible running mate of Teodoro.

However, Santos said she is more interested in seeking another term as Batangas governor than aspiring for higher office.

On Puno’s part, he said he would respect his party’s decision. –Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)