Danding says he never told Ping he will not run in May

San Miguel Corp. chairman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. made no promise to Sen. Panfilo Lacson that he would not seek the presidency when they met earlier this year and discussed plans for the 2004 elections.

Lacson said last Tuesday he would not withdraw from the race if Cojuangco joins the contest unless the opposition picks the former ambassador as its presidential candidate. Lacson said he would contest Cojuangco for the opposition nomination.

The opposition lawmaker said he continued with his bid because he had an agreement with Cojuangco, in which he told Lacson that he was not seeking the presidency when they met in March.

He was even encouraged by Cojuangco to run, Lacson added.

However, according to a statement by a group of Cojuangco supporters, quoting close Cojuangco friend Carmelo Santiago, the businessman had not yet made up his mind the time on whether to seek the presidency.

Cojuangco made no promise to Lacson that he was not running, the statement said, quoting Santiago. An aide of Lacson who asked not to be identified said the senator declined to comment to avoid driving a "wedge" between him and Cojuangco. He did not elaborate.

Santiago said he told Lacson in a telephone conversation sometime in March before the meeting that Cojuangco was "aware of the clamor" for him to run and may just do so "sometime in the future," according to the statement, sent to The STAR yesterday.

"Should Danding decide to run, I will give way to the candidacy of Danding," Santiago quoted Lacson as telling him. Santiago suggested that Lacson meet with Cojuangco and arrange a meeting.

When the two met, Cojuangco encouraged Lacson to continue with his bid because he had not yet decided on whether to throw his hat into the ring, Santiago said.

Santiago was at the March meeting, the statement said, which gave details on what went on.

"I am happy where I am, especially in San Miguel, with the expansion plans in seven countries. To me these are very exciting times for San Miguel and I would want to be here when that happens," Cojuangco told Lacson.

"But I do not want to be told someday that I turned my back to our country when my service was needed."

"So what should I do now?" Lacson asked.

"Continue what you are doing. If I decide to run, you will be the first to know," Cojuangco replied.

Reacting to the possibility of a Cojuangco bid, Lacson said on Tuesday he would continue with his campaign even if Cojuangco joins the presidential race.

"I am the adopted standard-bearer of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino and I will seek the nomination of the united opposition to be its standard-bearer," the former national police chief told a press forum.

"But if Mr. Cojuangco is chosen by the opposition, I will support him and I will not seek the presidency anymore and I will finish my term as senator." He would also turn down any offer to run for vice president beside Cojuangco, Lacson added.

"I have always maintained that the opposition should have only one candidate for the presidency in 2004, and I hope to be that candidate."

However, if Cojuangco is chosen by the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and the People Power Coalition (PPC), President Arroyo’s political alliance, Lacson said he would run against him "especially if I get the nomination of the united opposition."

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III said Cojuangco may be the opposition’s bet if Mrs. Arroyo rejoins the 2004 race.

Mrs. Arroyo said she would not reconsider her December 2002 decision to withdraw from the elections.

But her chief of staff Rigoberto Tiglao said Mrs. Arroyo might run after all if the "national interest" calls for it.

Many Lakas members have been encouraging the President to change her mind but a number have also endorsed Cojuangco as the party’s candidate. Lakas is the dominant party in the PPC.

In a move that stunned the nation on Dec. 30, Mrs. Arroyo announced in Baguio City that she was pulling out so she could concentrate on revitalizing the sluggish economy during her remaining months in office.

Lakas has been in a quandary on who to field in the presidential election since.