CHIZ EYES LOREN AS RUNNING MATE; LOREN TOO BUSY W/ RELIEF EFFORTS
MANILA, OCTOBER 11, 2009 (STAR) By Aurea Calica - Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero turned 40 yesterday but found it inappropriate to announce his political plans amid the overwhelming calamities in the country.Escudero said it was not the time to talk politics and the 2010 elections because of the disasters brought by tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”
The death toll from two weeks of the killer storms has reached at least 636, according to the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
“Let’s just all work together to help the victims of these calamities,” Escudero said in a text message to The STAR.
Escudero was set to make an announcement about his political plans for the 2010 polls tomorrow as he turned 40, making him eligible to vie for the country’s highest post.
Sources said all was set for Escudero’s announcement at 6:30 p.m. at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan and that he was prepared to talk about his platform of government.
However, Escudero changed his mind and delayed his declaration, deeming it inappropriate at a time when many people have died and are suffering from the calamities.
But Escudero confirmed that he had made a decision and would announce his plans at the right time.
Escudero is said to be eyeing Sen. Loren Legarda as his running mate.
But Legarda told The STAR she and Escudero had not yet finalized whether they would be a tandem in the 2010 elections and that she would make her own announcement by the third week of the month.
“It will be a solo announcement for me,” Legarda said, adding she was still busy with relief efforts for the typhoon victims and has been conducting seminars on climate change with local officials.
Legarda disclosed she would like to focus on developmental projects like job fairs and educating the public on the effects of climate change.
“I don’t think it is proper for us to discuss politics when many people had died,” Legarda said.
She earlier bared that aside from Escudero, four other presidential wannabes were asking her to be their running mate.
Escudero and his party, the Nacionalist People’s Coalition (NPC), where Legarda also belongs, had to hold declaration of any plans for 2010 until he turns 40, although he had been joining presidential debates.
In celebrating his birthday, Escudero earlier said he would just have a simple dinner with his family instead of holding a big party.
Last Friday night, he sponsored a rock concert held simultaneously in Manila, Iloilo and Davao for the benefit of the victims of the calamities.
Originally conceived as a free concert scheduled a day before the senator’s birthday, guests were instead requested to bring canned goods, a pack of rice, dry and usable clothing, bottled water, medicine, or simply donate a minimum of one peso for the fund drive.
Escudero’s birthday wishes are peace and security for his family, peace of mind for him and prosperity for the country.
8 LP lawmakers join Lakas-Kampi By Perseus Echeminada (The Philippine Star) Updated October 11, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Eight congressmen from the Liberal Party (LP) transferred last Friday to the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD, a top party official announced yesterday.
Ray Roquero, Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary general, told reporters during the weekly news forum Kapihan sa Sulo in Quezon City that the LP defectors took their oath before Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.
“The defection of the LP members is a heavy erosion of opposition power bases with the presidential elections just seven months away. The series of defections would deplete the support for the Noynoy (Sen. Benigno) Aquino and Mar (Sen. Manuel) Roxas tandem,” he said.
Roquero said former LP Reps. Rodolfo Valencia (first district, Mindoro), Mary Mitzy Cajayon (second district, Caloocan City), Reynaldo Uy (first district, Western Samar), Glen Chong (Biliran), Ramon Chungalao (Ifugao), Magtanggol Gunigundo (second district, Valenzuela City), Alvin Sandoval (Malabon), and Jose Antonio Roxas (Pasay City) took their oath as new administration party members.
Valencia said he joined the administration party to support the presidential bid of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro because of his strong convictions, untainted political record and his exercise of political will in times of crisis.
Cajayon said Teodoro is the most qualified and most intellectually prepared candidate among all presidential aspirants.
He said the first wave of defection triggered a crucial realignment of political forces and the Lakas-Kampi-CMD is the biggest beneficiary, a week after the Commission on Elections gave it status in the May elections.
Reggie Velasco, Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary general, expects an exodus of local officials from other parties to the administration party ahead of the party’s national convention next month to proclaim Teodoro as its standard-bearer in the 2010 elections.
“This is only the beginning. They see Lakas-Kampi-CMD as the party of reform, concrete achievements, and as the party of the future,” Velasco said.
He said the new members have boosted not just the numerical superiority of the ruling party in the House of Representatives but its political muscle at the grassroots level.
“We are the party of choice not because we are the biggest but because we have a coherent, workable and sustainable program of government,” Velasco said.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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