Few ‘winnables’ for PPC Senate slate

The People Power Coalition (PPC), composed of six pro-administration parties, would have difficulty filling up its 12-member senatorial ticket in the May 2004 elections, Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Flavier said yesterday.

"The problem is not lack of unity among the parties but lack of winnable aspirants," he explained.

Four incumbent senators are already seeded in the coalition ticket should they decide to run for re-election. They are Robert Barbers, Renato Cayetano, Robert Jaworski and Loren Legarda.

The four have rated well in numerous surveys. Legarda is also touted as a possible presidential or vice presidential candidate of the PPC.

If the four decide to seek re-election, then the majority coalition must pick eight more to fill up the ticket, and this could pose a problem, according to Flavier.

"We usually look up to the Cabinet for potential senatorial candidates," said Flavier, a former health secretary.

He lamented that the present crop of Cabinet members might not be of much help because their winnability is still suspect.

"The highest-ranked Cabinet member in surveys is only No. 15," he said. "We want to field only candidates with a big chance of winning."

Flavier added that the election period is still 11 months away, and the Cabinet members aspiring for a Senate seat still have time to enhance their acceptability.

Sen. Ramon Revilla, a member of the majority coalition, is on his second term which ends in 2004, so he is no longer qualified for re-election. He is hoping that his son, former Cavite Gov. Bong Revilla would fill his shoes.

Among the opposition senators, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, John Osmeña Rodolfo Biazon and Aquilino Pimentel Jr. are up for re-election.

Meanwhile, Flavier said the "anointment" by President Arroyo of the majority coalition’s presidential candidate for 2004 would be the easiest and least costly way of choosing a standard bearer.

He said that until now, the six-party PPC has not yet discussed the manner of choosing its national candidates in 2004.

Flavier, one of those being touted as possible candidate for either president or vice president, said that he sees a potential problem in the insistence of some Lakas members to have a bigger say in the choice of presidential candidate.

The PPC is composed of Lakas, the biggest political party today, Kampi headed by the President before joining Lakas, Liberal Party headed by Batanes Rep. Florencio Abad, Aksyon Demokratiko headed by former Sen. Raul Roco, Promdi headed by former Cebu Gov. Lito Osmeña, and Reporma headed by former Defense Secretary Renato de Villa.

Promdi and Reporma have already endorsed Roco, who has consistently led surveys on presidential candidates.

Flavier, however, pointed out that Promdi, Reporma and Aksyon Demokratiko ware small political parties and some Lakas leaders believe that the biggest political party should have more say than the others in forming the national ticket.

He said that allowing the President to pick the coalition’s presidential candidate would be a less costly and less bloody way.

"In 1998, President Ramos encouraged many aspirants but in the end, he anointed somebody, Joe DV. This proved costly in the end," Flavier recalled.

He said that the coalition might decide only in December on who to field for president.

"But some say December is too late, that we should decide in mid-year," Flavier added.

The indecision of the majority is in stark contrast to the opposition, which appears to have reached a consensus to field Sen. Panfilo Lacson for president in 2004.