EDITORIAL - Villar shouldn't parlay his lead for Lozada

Most surveys and other indicators at this point say that Senator Manny Villar leads all other contenders for president in the 2010 elections, whether they are from the opposition or from the administration. The lead is slight to be sure, but a lead just the same.

Whatever secret Villar has for performing well, despite the distractions that have come his way, his handlers may not readily reveal. But there are things that can still go wrong and for which his handlers should be on the lookout for if they want their man in Malacañang.

For example, indications point to Villar being interested in taking in Jun Lozada as a senatorial candidate in his slate. No gambit can be more unwise or a blunder more costly than taking in a man who, while owning some support, also has more than his share of loathers.

Now, we do not know what the numbers are. But all things being equal, chances are the pro and anti Lozada sides will just cancel each other out, in which case Villar will be left holding an empty bag.

Besides, the usefulness of Lozada has already been spent. There is nothing more to be squeezed from a guy who had nothing to offer in the first place. Lozada was just a convenient noise-making tool who had his few minutes of stage time against the Arroyo administration.

Villar must not bring in somebody who is not only a non-factor but a future liability as well. Running for the Senate will only prove what many have long suspected about Lozada. To have a campaign running so well, Villar should not go looking for a headache.

If Villar needs some convincing, he might do well to consider Cebu and the Cebuanos. Cebu, with its more than three million voters, is the biggest voting province in the country. And Cebuanos, except for a few misguided souls, have no love lost for Lozada.

In fact Cebuanos hate Lozada for insulting them when he came here during the Holy Week. On learning that no Masses will be celebrated at all venues where he was to speak, Lozada went ballistic without checking his facts. He called Cebu the “Archdiocese of Malacañang.”

Cebuanos will never forget that. And neither will its political leaders. Governor Gwen Garcia said it was a slur against Cebuanos. Mayor Tomas Osmeña said it reflected the bias of people from Manila toward Cebu and the Cebuanos.

At least as far as vote-rich Cebu is concerned, it would do well for Senator Villar to reconsider any plans, if he indeed has any such plans, about taking in Lozada as part of his Senate slate. Another thing. Where Cebu goes, so does most of the Cebuano-speaking provinces.