Amid scandals, five senators distance selves from GMA

Reports of corruption and desertions in President Arroyo’s ship of state have apparently prompted her five Senate allies to distance themselves from her.

"As of today, although we belong to the ruling People Power Coalition (PPC), the President, who has declared her candidacy, is not sure of our support," Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. said yesterday.

Villar and colleagues Joker Arroyo, Ralph Recto and Francis Pangilinan met with reporters to express their concern over the decision of three small political parties to bolt the PPC.

Raul Roco’s Aksyon Demokratiko, Renato de Villa’s Reporma and Lito Osmeña’s Probinsiya Muna Development Initiatives (Promdi) deserted the coalition on Wednesday. The three groups also decided to support Roco’s quest for the presidency in next year’s elections.

Even the biggest PPC member, Lakas-CMD, has suffered desertions. Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. and Sen. Loren Legarda have bolted the ruling party. They were party president and vice president before leaving Lakas.

Villar, Arroyo, Recto, Pangilinan, and Sen. Noli de Castro comprise the so-called Gang of 5 in the Senate. Except for Recto, who is identified with Promdi, the group members won as independents under the PPC umbrella.

Speaking for the group, Villar said he and his colleagues will soon decide who among the presidential candidates in next year’s elections they will support.

"As of now, there are only two senators who belong to Lakas," he said, hinting that Mrs. Arroyo can expect support only from Juan Flavier and Robert Barbers, both of whom are candidates for the Lakas vice presidential slot.

Senator Arroyo, the chief investigator of allegations of corruption and money laundering against First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo, said his group is not bound to support Mrs. Arroyo’s candidacy.

Senator Arroyo is a Bicolano like Roco.

Pangilinan said their group would soon invite Roco, De Villa and Osmeña to a meeting to discuss common concerns.

He said they would consider Roco in deciding whom to support in 2004.

For his part, Recto said they may yet decide to field their own presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Before Villar and his colleagues met with reporters, Pangilinan expressed concern about the complaint filed by German airport operator Fraport AG against the Philippine government with the World Bank’s International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.