400 Lakas leaders ready to shift to LAMP - Banayo

Though the local and congressional elections are still over a year away, a realignment of political forces is already evident.

Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Lito Banayo said some 400 governors and mayors belonging to the opposition Lakas-NUCD have made overtures about moving over to the ruling Lapian ng Masang Pilipino (LAMP) headed by President Estrada in an apparent bid to strengthen their re-election chances.

Banayo also revealed that several media personalities, notably broadcast journalists Noli de Castro, Ted Failon, Korina Sanchez and lawyer Ricardo "Dong" Puno, who also writes a column for The STAR, have signified their intention to join LAMP and run in next year's elections.

Banayo said, however, that the LAMP leadership has not acted on the requests for membership, adding that the President has yet to call for a meeting to decide on who should be accepted into the party.

"Frankly, the stack (of names) is about this thick. But we've already placed all of these in a matrix and we've already somehow graded them in terms of whether they should be acceptable to the party or not," Banayo told reporters.

He said they were still awaiting Mr. Estrada's call for a meeting with party leaders including Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara and Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado.

So far, already sworn in as new LAMP members were those endorsed by Speaker Manuel Villar, Banayo revealed.

He also said political leaders in the entire provinces of Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur wanted to transfer to LAMP.

He pointed out that accepting the requests poses some problems as it would create resentment among LAMP "originals."

"You have what you call your originals who were with you before the May 1998 elections, and those who want to join in, who also have probably better or more chances of winning in 2001," Banayo said.

He also said Mr. Estrada, who has placed politics "on the back burner," has yet to call for a LAMP caucus.

The presidential aide said there are four or five remaining slots in LAMP's senatorial slate.

Among those almost assured of a slot were Senators Franklin Drilon, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile, Gregorio Honasan, Villar, and possibly, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada.

Banayo clarified, however, that while Santiago has maintained her own People's Reform Party and at the same time been pro-LAMP, there was no formal coalition yet.

Expected to fight it out for the remaining slots were Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, Bohol Rep. Ernesto Herrera and Quezon Rep. Wigberto Tañada.

Other possible LAMP senatorial bets are Mercado, Angara, Agrarian Reform Secretary Horacio Morales and Ambassador to the United States and former Senate President Ernesto Maceda.

Asked about reports saying some LAMP leaders mull deserting to the opposition, Banayo said the party hierarchy has kept silent on the issue.

He also disclosed that LAMP would conduct another survey sometime in the second quarter of the year to determine the "winnable" candidates.

At the same time, Banayo renewed his invitation to Lakas Sen. Juan Flavier to join the administration party.