Noli, BF, Barbers eyed as GMA’s running mate

SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan — Sen. Noli de Castro, Sen. Robert Barbers or Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando may be chosen as President Arroyo’s running mate in the May elections, Speaker Jose de Venecia said here yesterday.

However, the popular de Castro, a former television and radio journalist, has the edge over Barbers and Fernando, De Venecia said.

"Our party leaders are batting for Senator Barbers but Metro Manila leaders say and surveys show that De Castro has the advantage," he told reporters during the birthday party for former Bulacan Rep. Ricardo Silverio.

De Venecia co-chairs the ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats with Mrs. Arroyo.

Asked what will the primary basis in choosing the party’s vice presidential nominee, De Venecia said: "Performance, performance and performance."

Popularity is only an added criterion in the selection process, he added.

Barbers earlier warned that nominating a non-Lakas member as Mrs. Arroyo’s running mate could "stir up dissent among the majority and loyal members of Lakas."

De Castro is an independent.

De Venecia said the party wants a running mate from Lakas "as much as possible" but it is also considering the possibility of selecting an outsider.

It is believed that de Castro is being eyed as Mrs. Arroyo’s running mate to counter the popularity of action star Fernando Poe Jr., who joined the presidential race next year.

De Castro and Roco, a former senator who is making a second bid for the presidency, consistently topped opinion surveys.

Meanwhile, Fernando remains hopeful that he will be chosen although he is resigned to the fact that De Castro has already been selected.

"I am the best and I believe it’s me who will be chosen by the President," he said, citing his experience as mayor of Marikina City for nine years.

Fernando was appointed to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in 2001 because of his management style and his success in turning Marikina around.

He was both praised and criticized for his drastic measures in improving traffic in Metro Manila.

Barbers, on the other hand, declared his bid for the nomination last week, reversing an earlier statement that he would not volunteer for the post but would accept if nominated by the party.

Poe’s candidacy is seen as Mrs. Arroyo’s greatest stumbling block for her chances of winning a full six-year term in the May polls.

Poe is consistently one of the top five preferred candidates cited in recent national surveys but, so far, has trailed the competition despite his iconic status.

Poe, however, commands the poorest classes of Philippine society, which account for four out of 10 Filipinos.

Poe is idolized by millions of poor Filipinos awed by his movie roles portraying him as a champion of the underdog who conquers all odds to triumph in the end. — With Evelyn Macairan