NP scouting for 2010 senatorial bets

MANILA, Philippines -- The Nacionalista Party (NP) is scouring all fronts of the political spectrum, including those coming from the military and from left-wing groups, to come up with a formidable senatorial slate in the May 2010 election, the spokesman of the party said.Former congressman Gilbert Remulla said talks were now ongoing with left-wing progressive forces, former military officers, and reelectionist senators interested to seek seats in the Senate under NP.

"We are talking with the left, meaning Bayan Muna, there are also talks with Akbayan, with former military officers, with reelectionists, there are a number of them," Remulla told reporters at the sidelines of a forum on reproductive health in Club Filipino in San Juan City Wednesday.

He said the NP was open to having the likes of former military officers Danilo Lim and Ariel Querubin, as well as militant lawmakers like Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casino of Bayan Muna party list and Liza Maza of Gabriela in the NP slate.

Lim, who is detained at the Philippine National Police custodial center on rebellion charges, and Querubin, in jail at the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP), are reportedly eyeing the Senate in the 2010 election.

Progressive groups such as Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis and Kabataan partylist have formed a political party, Makabayan, to link with other political parties and field candidates in the local level and in the Senate in next year's polls.

Senator Manuel Villar, NP president, will be the party standard-bearer, but he has yet to choose a runningmate, Remulla said.

"One thing for sure is that Villar could not slide down," he added.

The NP has four senatorial candidates in the line-up -- incumbent Senator Pia Cayetano, lawyer Adel Tamano, Bukidnon Representative Teofisto Guingona III, and Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Remulla said.

Remulla said he was also considering seeking a senatorial seat.