MANILA, 26 September 2006 — A top government official admitted that the administration’s Senate slate for the coming midterm elections would consist mostly of those loyal to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Presidential Chief of Staff Michael Defensor was quoted by a national news daily as saying a candidate’s “winnability” and qualification for the position was no longer important. Rather his or her “sense of loyalty” to the president and to her and the administration’s vision and agenda for the country was being considered, Defensor said.
“What we are looking at are those who would push the agenda of the administration. It would be difficult if they win and then they start criticizing the administration,” Defensor said.
In line with this, he announced in a morning radio news show that the administration had already picked out five possible candidates, which included Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, House Majority Leader Prospero Nograles, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Manila Mayor Jose Atienza Jr.
Defensor also said another possible candidate — Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya — declined because he “did not want to run” for senator.
He said the administration was taking this tack because in the past, several administration-backed senatorial candidates turned into critics of Arroyo after the 2004 elections. He named as examples senators Francis Pangilinan, Joker Arroyo, Ralph Recto and Manuel Villar who all ran under the president’s political party in the 2004 polls but who later criticized her administration.
However, Defensor’s announcement was promptly denied by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, particularly the part about the criteria being loyalty to the president.
Ermita said the Palace was still focused in pushing for charter change and has not yet drafted plans for the 2007 national elections.
Defensor said in an earlier interview that the criteria was being set “if and when charter change does not proceed.
