EDITORIAL - Tom vs. Gwen for vice president

Vice President Noli de Castro has been reported to be eyeing Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia to be his running mate in the 2010 national elections. Praising the woman governor for what she has done for Cebu, De Castro said Garcia is very much qualified for vice president.

If De Castro succeeds in convincing Garcia to be his running mate in the next elections, they would form a formidable force. Geographically, the vice president is from Luzon while Garcia is a scion of a family that has been politically well-entrenched in the Visayas.

Their tandem will surely be a hit among the electorate. De Castro has been hugely popular among the masses while the governor sports an image that has already been well-liked by the upper echelon.

But Garcia, as of the moment, has no interest in running for any national position. Some rumored contenders for president have reportedly proposed for her to run for vice president, but she did not show any hints to seek a higher elective post, seemingly content in running the province.

Undeniably, De Castro needs a running mate who is capable of attracting the upper class. He has been perceived by the elite, especially the business sector, as being incapable to run the highest post in the land due to his apparent lack of managerial experience. This despite the fact he is the perfect choice among the poor to succeed President Gloria Arroyo.

So De Castro will need Garcia to spice up his dash for the presidency. This move must be based on the fact that what De Castro is lacking in managerial skills will be hugely compensated by Garcia’s supervisory expertise. 

If Garcia decides to run for vice president, it would be more, of course, interesting if Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will also seek the same post to give the governor a run for her money.

Senator Mar Roxas, a presidential aspirant himself, already expressed his interest in Osmeña. In his visit to Cebu during the Sinulog, Roxas said Osmeña would make a fine vice president, although the mayor already confirmed that he has no ambition for any national post.  

Garcia and Osmeña have been bitter adversaries on some petty issues of late. Pitting them for vice president will surely elevate their “unfinished business” to a national level.