Ten bets make it to Angara bloc’s list

A political group chaired by Senator Edgardo Angara has endorsed l0 senatorial candidates from various parties for the May elections.

The Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, which used to be the biggest political party in the post-martial law era, is not fielding any candidate for national positions, said Angara, party chairman. But it will endorse candidates “who have proven their commitment to public service and who have solid track records in legislation and governance.”

The party’s choices include the following: Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino), Franklin Drilon (Liberal Party), Senate President Protempore Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Senators Ramon Revilla, Jr., (Lakas-Kampi), Miriam Defensor-Santiago (People’s Reform Party), Pia Cayetano (Nacionalista Party) and Lito Lapid (Lakas-Kampi), Vicente Sotto III (Nacionalista Party), Ralph Recto and Silvestre Bello III (Lakas-Kampi).

Of the candidates the party endorsed, six are either members of the ruling party or allied with the administration, namely, Enrile, Santiago, Revilla, Lapid, Sotto and Bello.

Angara said party members arrived at the decision to endorse the l0 senatorial contenders during a recent meeting at the Manila Polo Club.

Earlier, Angara’s party endorsed the vice-presidential bid of Loren Legarda, under the NP-NPC coalition.

Former Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, vice-presidential bet of the Estrada-led oppositionist party PMP, also crossed party line and endorsed Bello of the ruling Lakas-Kampi. Binay and Bello are members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. –Fel V. Maragay with Joyce Pañares, Manila Standard Today