JDV’s wife prays for discernment on senatorial slot offer

DAGUPAN CITY — With growing clamor from the public and an assurance of total support from the administration that offered her a slot in its senatorial ticket in the May elections, Georgina de Venecia is now praying for discernment whether to accept the offer or not.

De Venecia, wife of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., told The STAR in a phone interview yesterday that she has until the end of this month to decide.

"I am now seriously considering the offer but I am praying for discernment because that would mean a total change in my life," said De Venecia, popularly called "Manay Gina," who is also the president of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc.

She said entering public office will help her in her advocacy for the disadvantaged and abused women and children but a big part of her decision would greatly depend on husband Joe’s approval.

The Speaker, president of the administration Lakas-CMD-UMDP party, told his wife she can still pursue her programs even without getting into politics.

"I’m in my crossroads," Gina, who is turning 58 on Feb. 15, said.

All these years, she said she has been behind her husband as a supportive wife but when she lost her daughter KC who died in a fire at their Dasmariñas residence two years ago, she has devoted her time to helping the poor, especially bereaved mothers like her and abused women and children.

She put up Haven, a home for abused women and children, and INA (Inang Naulila ng Anak) Center for mothers who lost their children. She wants to spread her advocacies nationwide.

Her other children, Ipe, Carissa and Christopher said they are behind her should she make a run for the Senate.

Actually, the offer to run for senator is not new to Mrs. De Venecia, as she had received the same offer during the time of former President Fidel Ramos and in 2004.

While she remains undecided, Pangasinan leaders belonging to Biskeg na Pangasinan (Strength of Pangasinan) are pushing her to give it a try, considering her "popularity and winnability."

Biskeg is a group of influential leaders composed of 38 Pangasinan mayors and a majority of provincial board members, vice mayors and councilors.

Mrs. De Venecia admits that in her husband’s home province of Pangasinan, her number one supporter in case she decides to run is Undersecretary for Local Governance Antonio Villar Jr., founding chairman and president of Biskeg na Pangasinan.

Villar said Mrs. De Venecia is "a tried and tested leader in her own right." She is also a friend and supporter of President Arroyo through thick and thin "and the President knows that very well."

Meanwhile, despite the United Opposition’s reported move not to include former senator Gregorio Honasan in the senatorial lineup, he is keen on running in the May polls as an independent.

The Honasan camp, however, issued a statement thanking deposed President Joseph Estrada "for considering him for the UNO senatorial slate."

They lamented, though, that Honasan’s senatorial bid was derailed because of his arrest and detention at Camp Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna for rebellion charges for his alleged involvement in the failed coup last Feb. 24.

Honasan is banking on his victories in the 1995 and 2001 elections as an independent candidate, despite his being also on the run at that time for rebellion charges.

Honasan’s non-inclusion in the UNO lineup came amid reports that the senator had apparently lost the confidence of the Estrada camp after he failed to deliver during the Feb. 24 coup attempt.

Sources said anti-Arroyo groups bankrolled last year’s failed power grab to the tune of P800 million, a large portion of which was allegedly given to Honasan to obtain logistics and support for junior officers.

Third force

Even as the administration and the Estrada-led opposition are finalizing their senatorial tickets, a third political force continues to be a possibility.

According to Sen. Edgardo Angara, an independent mainstream party composed of incumbent senators would be an ideal alternative to the two major coalitions as it would be free from political affiliations.

"If I decide to run, my preferred scenario is for the core of the ticket to be incumbent senators who will run in an independent mainstream party, independent of administration, independent even of the opposition," Angara said.

"We can be free thinking agents who will support bills, not because it is partisan, not because it’s political but because it’s for the country," he added.

In earlier interviews, senators belonging to the Nacionalista Party of Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. and the Liberal Party of Sen. Franklin Drilon have expressed openness to the idea of a third major political bloc.

Noli’s favorites

Meanwhile, Vice President Noli de Castro said yesterday he will campaign for his favored senatorial candidates in the May elections, regardless of their political affiliation.

"I am not a candidate so I will just help those deserving help," De Castro said in an interview after delivering his keynote speech at the government-sponsored anti-poverty summit held at the Clark Museum in Pampanga.

De Castro said he will openly campaign for Senators Joker Arroyo, Ralph Recto, Francis Pangilinan, and Manny Villar.

"I have seen how they worked. They were with me in the Senate, in the 12th Congress. So, I know their performance and they are the ones running now," he explained.

"Up to now, I have no (political) party. Personally, I don’t look at the party, I look at the person," he added. — With Christina Mendez, Marvin Sy, Ding Cervantes