By Norman Bordadora
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:08am (Mla time) 01/06/2008
MANILA, Philippines--The opposition views Vice President Noli De Castro as the “most formidable” contender that the administration can field in the 2010 presidential election.
But even De Castro will be no match for anyone in the opposition’s crop of “presidentiables,” according to Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and lawyer Adel Tamano, both opposition stalwarts.
Rodriguez, former spokesperson of deposed President Joseph Estrada, the recognized leader of the opposition, made the fearless forecast at yesterday’s Kapihan sa Sulo news forum, saying: “We believe that our crop of ‘presidentiables’ can do better. As long as the opposition is not divided four or five ways, we will win.”
Tamano, the spokesperson of the United Opposition, agreed that De Castro was the strongest candidate that the administration could put up against the likes of Senate President Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP), Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II of the Liberal Party (LP), and Senators Loren Legarda and Panfilo Lacson.
“But he has the same built-in weakness in that he is with the administration,” Tamano pointed out.
Declared Rodriguez: “Vice President De Castro is the most formidable.
“But he is ‘beatable’ by a strong opposition. He is identified with the administration, and the administration trust rating is very low.”
The administration coalition, led by the Lakas-CMD, is reportedly looking to choose its standard-bearer in 2010 from among De Castro, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Bayani Fernando and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte.
Administration Sen. Richard Gordon is said to be also considering a run for the presidency.
Lakas executive director Ray Roquero yesterday told the Inquirer by phone that the ruling party might “adopt” De Castro.
But Roquero added that De Castro had to surmount obstacles within Lakas in the persons of Fernando and Belmonte.
De Castro and Gordon, despite having proved an ability to win an elective post on the national level, are outside the fold of Lakas.
Fernando and Belmonte are Lakas members, but neither has mounted a nationwide electoral campaign.
Another administration stalwart reportedly being considered for a run for the presidency is Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
Of the lot, only Fernando has categorically declared himself available for nomination as Lakas standard-bearer.
“Yes, I want to run,” he told the Inquirer on Friday. “You can’t be too coy about this. You have to let people know what you want.”
