SENATOR VILLAR SAYS no need to formalize LP-NP-NPC coalition

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MANILA, Aug. 6 (PNA) – Saying the coalition of the ruling Liberal Party, Nacionalist People’s Coalition and Nacionalista Party is good as approved, Senator Manny Villar said on Monday that the alliance for 2013 mid-term elections requires no further formality.
”We are not waiting any formality. Our assumption was there is no more hindrances to the coalition except for minor problems in the local level,” Villar said.
Villar made this comment as the NP president swore in Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez as newest NP member on Monday afternoon at the senator’s office.
”Traditionally, many Romualdezes are affiliated with NP. I hope I served better with my affiliation to the NP,” the Tacloban mayor, who is seeking reelection next year, said.
The swear in of Romualdez was witnessed by his wife Cristina Gonzales and NP senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ferdinand ‘Bong-Bong’ Marcos and Antonio ‘Sonny’ Trillanes IV.
Alan Peter Cayetano and Trillanes are two of the four NP candidates for senators in 2013. Others are Villar’s wife former congresswoman Cynthia Villar and former congressman Robert ‘Ace’ Barbers.
The LP of President Benigno S. Aquino III and NPC of businessmen Danding Cojuangco have yet to formally announce their respective candidates though some names have already cropped as possible sentoriables. These are former Senator Ramon ‘Jun’ Magsaysay Jr., Rep. Erin Tanada, Rep. Sonny Angara, Customs commissioner Rufino Biazon. (PNA)
RMA/jfm

CYNTHIA VILLAR IN PREMATURE CAMPAIGN FOR SENATOR?

Everyone’s talking about the TV ad of Villar Foundation, Inc. The premature campaigning
advertisement features former Congresswoman Cynthia Aguilar-Villar, wife of Sen. Manny Villar. The title of the ad is “Walang kadala-dala.”

Rumors say former congresswoman Cynthia Villar will run for senator next year. Just so you know, Mrs. Villar is a member of the rich Aguilar clan of Las Piñas. In fact, the jingle for her next TV ad goes something like, “Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng pera?” THE PHILIPPINE HECKLER

PIMENTEL MAY RUN ALONE UNDER PDP

Senator Koko Pimentel III may run “alone” in the 2013 senatorial race under the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

PDP is half of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), a newly-formed political coalition with former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

“There’s no reason for me to rush. I’m not party-less,” Pimentel said.

 Pimentel has no official “suitors” at the moment after he formally bolted the UNA, after Estrada said that UNA would have former Senator Migz Zubiri, Pimentel's arch-rival, in its 2013 senatorial slate..

Pimentel on said he was not in a hurry to join any other political party as a possible guest candidate, noting that the filing of certificates of candidacy for next year’s midterm elections would not start until October.

LP interested

Officials of the Liberal Party (LP) had publicly expressed interest in getting Pimentel soon after he had announced that he was leaving UNA. Pimentel said he could not “in conscience” run with former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri under the same ticket.

Pimentel failed to serve the first four years of his six-year term after Zubiri was declared winner of the 12th and final spot in the 2007 senatorial race. Zubiri resigned in August last year amid an election fraud investigation, and months before the Senate Electoral Tribunal was to rule on Pimentel’s election protest against him.

‘I will survive’

Pimentel said none from the LP or the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel Villar had formally approached him in connection with the 2013 senatorial elections. He said he was ready for what he described as a “worst-scenario” of having to run only under his own party, the PDP-Laban.

“I would look lonely, but I won’t feel lonely,” he said. “With no other party helping me out, I think I would still survive. I have to survive but if I don’t, that’s the price I have to pay.”

Pimentel acknowledged the possibility that he might not get a slot in other political parties should they decide to field a complete senatorial lineup. Going by media reports, he said the LP, for instance, appeared to have a lot of prospective candidates of its own.

“But that should not affect me because I’m not party-less,” he said.

Pimentel said getting the endorsement of any of UNA’s Big 3 was also not out of the question.

He said he could still secure the backing of Estrada, Vice President Jejomar Binay, or Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile—but only if UNA would not come up with a complete slate.

“I can approach them individually, but of course it would depend on them,” he said, agreeing with Enrile’s previous statement that the Senate President could only do so after he had fulfilled his party obligations.

“I would completely understand that. As a party leader, I would also do the same,” Pimentel said.PDI

Bukidnon LMP to patch up Zubiri-Calingasan rift

Members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bukidnon Chapter are gunning for political peace, a year ahead of the 2013 elections.
During its meeting here on May 18, municipal mayors intensively discussed the internal political conflict between Vice Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri and Gov. Alex Calingasan and offered help in mediating in the rift.

READ MORE:

  Bukidnon LMP to patch up Zubiri-Calingasan rift ...

 

BUKIDNON MAYORS – (sitting): Godofredo I. Balansag (Lantapan), Nenita M. Suyao (Kalilangan), Alice P. Resus (Maramag). Standing-right: Manolito G. Garces (Pangantucan), Rogelio C. Castillanes (Cabanglasan), Rodito B. Rafisura (Kitaotao), Aida dela Rosa (Malitbog), Laurencia S. Edma (San Fernando), Rey B. Baula (Sumilao), Joelito J. Talaid (Kadingilan), Nestor B. Macapayag (Talakag), Romeo P. Tiongco (Damulog), Edilberto F. Ayuban (Dangcagan). Photo by MELVELEZ

 

KOKO PIMENTEL - UNA's loss; AQUINO's gain

SENATOR KOKO PIMENTEL HAS BEEN RESERVED A FRONT SEAT IN THE SENATORIAL LINE-UP FOR THE 2013 ELECTION BY THE LIBERAL PARTY OF PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO.

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III remains a "priority" for the administration party after he officially bolted the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Thursday, a spokesperson said.

House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III, spokesperson for the Aquino-led Liberal Party (LP), said Pimentel is welcome to join the 2013 senatorial ticket of the administration party.

"His name was earlier mentioned as a candidate for the administration. I believe he is one of the priorities for the slate," Tañada said.

 READ MORE:

Senator Koko Pimentel a 'priority' in admin 2013 line-up | Sun.Star

 

BINAY SLAMS DOOR ON EX-SPEAKER PROSPERO NOGRALES' ENTRY INTO PDP

If Dabawenyos cringed at the thought of Nograles as a politician and voted him down in his three bids for the mayoral seat, the feeling is the same even in the higher echelons of the national political scene.
    Nobody wants to be in the company of the former Davao City First District congressman and former House Speaker, except maybe the discredited former president Gloria Arroyo.
    Vice President Jejomar Binay, president of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) said Nograles has not applied for membership in the PDP, but his body language when interviewed by Davao City-based media showed Nograles may have no room in the party if he decides to join.
    Binay was in Davao City last week as guest speaker in an assembly of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officials and a mining conference organized by the Philippine Society of Mining Engineers.
    The vice president, whose party has coalesced with the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of former President Joseph Estrada under the United Nationalists Alliance (UNA), said however that PDP has accepted Mayor Sara Duterte's resignation from the party.
    Binay's feeling about Nograles echoed down to Wendel Avisado, PDP secretary general and deputy commissioner of the Housing and Land Use and Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) headed by Binay.
    Avisado, who resigned as Davao city councilor shortly after the 2010 elections to join Binay, said PDP has closed the door for Nograles' entry into the party.
    Excuse me, but there is no basis for Nograles to be accepted as a member of PDP, said Avisado who accompanied Binay in the Davao City sortie.
    Avisado said however that the PDP would still support the Dutertes. ROGER M. BALANZA