Fernando on 2010 bid: I'm no token candidate

BALANGA CITY, Philippines – Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando is confident he will be the standard – bearer of Lakas Party in the 2010 polls with endorsements from northern and central Luzon political kingpins reportedly led by former President Fidel Ramos.

Fernando, who was the guest speaker of Balanga City’s “Natatanging Ama” program the other night, stressed it was not true he was a “saling pusa” or token candidate and there is a big possibility that a leader from “katagalugan” will be nominated as Lakas presidential bet.

Speaking before 25 barangay chairmen of the province’s first city, Fernando said poll surveys conducted by independent research agencies have placed him consistently at number two in Metro Manila areas and in Bulacan province because of his performance as MMDA chair.

“I would not seek a senatorial post,” Fernando stressed. “It’s now an opportune time to have a competent leader from Central Luzon and Metro Manila where 75 percent of the country’s economic activity rolls on.”

He explained that even at the risk of being unpopular, a leader, especially someone aspiring for the highest position of the land, should have political will to implement laws which will benefit the greatest number of the populace.

Gordon’s allies

A group of volunteers who played a major role in the transformation of Olongapo City from sin city to model community will launch tomorrow a new political party that is expected to be at the forefront of the campaign of Sen. Richard Gordon should he decide to run for president in 2010.

Leon Herrera, president of the newly formed Bagumbayan Party, told reporters during the weekly Kapihan sa Sulo Hotel forum in Quezon City that Filipino boxing champion Nonito Donaire and CNN Heroes nominee Efren Penaflorida, who are among the 30,000 members of their party, will be the guest speakers in their national convention to be held at the Manila Hotel tomorrow.

Gordon, founder of the party, will also give his message during the affair.

“We are very elated that people have come forward to join our movement, it’s truly an encouraging sign, we welcome everyone who believes in our vision of a new Philippines,” Herrera said, adding that their party welcomes merger with other political groups.

Should Gordon not join the presidential race, the party would look for presidential aspirants who share their ideals.

“Our application for accreditation as political party is now being processed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec),” Herrera said.

Political party revived

Former senator Francisco Tatad revealed the other day that he intends to re-launch his political party Grand Alliance for Democracy (GAD) which was earlier delisted by the Comelec.

“I am preparing for the re-launching of the Grand Alliance for Democracy which was a political party that contested the first elections after (former President) Cory Aquino came to power,” said Tatad during last Friday’s weekly forum held at the Ambassador Hotel in Manila.

“It used to be there. But we were delisted after we failed to participate in two national elections,” said Tatad, adding that they will be re-launching the party “in order to provide an additional vehicle for those with legitimate political ambitions to participate in the elections.”

Tatad said some candidates simply want to become president and succeed President Arroyo and are not interested in solving the problems of the country.

He said the nation has had enough of such candidates who deserve to be ousted from office. However, there is also an absence of good choices for various political posts.

Meanwhile, Tatad scored the Senate ethics committee over the squabble they had recently regarding the procedural process on the investigation of Sen. Manny Villar’s approval of the C-5 Road Extension project in Las Piñas City.

Questions arose about the credibility of current ethics committee chairman Sen. Panfilo Lacson who issued an order to investigate Villar over the controversy.

“The ethics committee has been there for as long as the Senate has been there. I think, this is the first time that we are experiencing anything like this. And as Senator (Aquilino) Pimentel pointed out, the issue at this point is purely procedural. They want to be assured of due process,” said Tatad.

“It is unfortunate that this issue is taking place during the run-up to the campaign for the presidency. The guys involved are declared presidential aspirants. So everything tends to be colored,” said Tatad. – With Perseus Echeminada, Sandy Araneta