Danding supporters want Loren as running mate

TARLAC CITY — Supporters here of business tycoon Eduardo "Danding" Cojuangco Jr. urging the big boss of the food and beverage giant, San Miguel Corp. (SMC), not only to run as president in next year’s polls but also to pick Sen. Loren Legarda as his vice presidential running mate.

Ronjie Daquigan, secretary general of the United Movement for Danding Cojuangco (UMDC), said that his group now see "a clearer political horizon" in next year’s presidential derby with the breakaway of Legarda from the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

Legarda announced her split from Lakas-CMD Thursday, saying that she will be freer to speak her mind and make a stand on national issues as a political independent.

Legarda has not kept from the public her interest in seeking a higher post, particularly the vice presidency. However, many have deduced that pairing her off with Mrs. Arroyo, should she decide to run in next year’s polls, will not be good for Legarda.

Daquigan claimed that long before Legarda severed her ties from Lakas-CMD, his group has been favorable to having Legarda as Cojuangco’s running mate.

He explained that when Mrs. Arroyo appeared to be committed to her Dec. 30 promise not to seek re-election, they already saw the Danding-Loren tandem as a "strong unifying force" for both the administration and opposition blocs.

But with the President seemingly bent on joining the presidential race, Daquigan said that a team-up between Cojuangco and Legarda "will galvanize a broad coalition from the ranks of the administration and the opposition, and may even emerge as the biggest political force to reckon with."

Cojuangco already has the support of about 50 Lakas-CMD congressmen led by Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras while Daquigan said that Legarda "has the respect and also has a strong following among Lakas leaders and members nationwide."

Daquigan also pointed out that there have been indications that opposition Sen. Edgardo Angara, president of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), is more inclined to support Cojuangco than Sen. Panfilo Lacson. The LDP is the country’s third biggest mainstream political party, next to Lakas-CMD and the NPC.

According to Daquigan, Legarda’s arrival in the province with Cojuangco last Sept. 14 during the 54th birthday of Rep. Jesli Lapus’ (NPC, third district of Tarlac) "boosted our hopes for a Danding-Loren tandem."

Cojuangco has yet to make an announcement, though, on whether he will run for president again next year. The tycoon sought the presidency in the 1992 polls, but lost to Fidel Ramos.