Source: ABS-CBN News
Posted: 11/12/2009
MANILA - The administration Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats has chosen a running mate for presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro but held off announcing the selection until November 15, a top party member official revealed Thursday.
Rey Roquero, the party's executive director, said the Lakas-Kampi CMD vice-presidential bet will be named during the party's national convention on November 15, two weeks before the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy for the 2010 elections.
Roquero's revelation came amid speculations that the Lakas-Kampi-CMD's is already running out of choices for Teodoro's running mate. This, after actor Edu Manzano, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and Senator Miguel Zubiri turned down the ruling party's offers.
Zubiri said he rejected the offer because he is swamped with work in the Senate. He said the burden of steering the legislative body to pass the 2010 budget falls on his shoulders. “I’m the majority floor leader. I cannot abandon my post,” he said.
Moreover, he said he is not ready "emotionally and financially" to run for vice-president.
Revilla, whose party mates in Lakas-Kampi-CMD are banking on his capacity to bring votes from Cavite, Rizal and Nueva Ecija, opted to vie for re-election in 2010 instead.
“I’m not prepared. After a series of consultations, I believe...that I can more effectively serve the country as a senator," Revilla said in a statement.
Manzano, meanwhile, has become unavailable as running mate of Teodoro as he is set to join the senatorial ticket of the Liberal Party (LP), which is fielding Senators Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III for president and Manual 'Mar' Roxas II for vice president.
Manzano was scheduled to take his oath as member of the LP on Thursday, but this has been postponed.
On Tuesday, Lakas-Kampi-CMD senior vice-president for membership, former Rep. Prospero Pichay said Revilla and Manzano were among those being eyed by the administration party to become Teodoro's running mate.
Pichay said former Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III is also being considered as Teodoro's running mate.
Aside from the two actor-politicians and Zubiri, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno was also supposed to become Teodoro's running mate, but backed out from the vice-presidential race.
Sen. Loren Legarda was also being wooed by the ruling party, but the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) leadership has apparently abandoned coalition talks with the Lakas-Kampi-CMD.
Roquero reiterated that they are not the only party having difficulties in fielding a vice-presidential candidate.
He said Sen. Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party and Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who had recently bolted NPC, have also yet to choose their running mates.
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