Pimentel says united opposition ticket possible in next year’s elections

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. has raised the possibility of a united opposition ticket to rival the administration party’s ticket in the May 2007 elections.

Pimentel said there are indications that opposition parties would put up a common 12-man senatorial lineup.

"The most likely scenario is we will have a single ticket. It will not be good for the opposition to split up into factions fielding their own candidates,’’ Pimentel said.

"I think the times are opportune for the opposition to exploit the sentiment of our people against the administration by putting up a single ticket. Otherwise, some of the candidates of the administration can get through,’’ he added.

A recent Pulse Asia survey on the senatorial candidates showed the opposition dominating the polls.

According to Pimentel, the opposition coalition is currently composed of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino of former President Joseph Estrada and his own PDP-Laban.

Pimentel said the Nacionalista Party of Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. would most likely join the coalition while negotiations are underway with other major parties such as the Liberal Party of Sen. Franklin Drilon.

While Drilon may not need a party tag since according to Pimentel, he is planning to run for congressman in Iloilo province, he said that Drilon’s partymate Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan would further his chances of winning re-election if he decides to run under the United Opposition.

Another re-electionist, Senator Ralph Recto, who belongs to NP, has been critical of the administration lately and this could be an indication that he would be running under the opposition ticket, Pimentel said.

Both Pangilinan and Recto ran under the administration ticket in 2001.

In the case of Sen. Edgardo Angara of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, Pimentel said that he is uncertain of what Angara would do, although the latter repeatedly proclaims that he is from the opposition.

"I really don’t know where his canoe will take him — to the high seas or to the Sierra Madre. But kidding aside, Angara will have to make up his mind first and foremost, because I’m not too sure that the opposition will go out of its way and make invitations to prospective candidates,’’ he said.

Citing the Democratic victory over the ruling Republicans in the recent mid-term elections in the United States, Pimentel said he believes "the US elections also have an impact on the thinking of our people that the political tides are changing and probably that should very well happen. The year of the opposition is coming in next year’s elections.’’ — Marvin Sy