Philippines' presidential race getting a bit crowded
Traffic is building up on the road to the 2016 elections, with more politicians announcing plans to run for president or vice president.
Among them are two veterans of presidential elections who finished their races as losers.
On Saturday, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a veteran of the 2004 presidential election who simply reported back to the Senate after losing the race to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, spoke about another run for Malacañang, although saying his plan was not quite firm.
Last week, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who lost the 1992 and 1998 presidential elections, announced that she had kept her lung cancer in check and that she was considering running for president again.
If they reach the starting line, Lacson and Santiago will run against Vice President Jejomar Binay, who quit the Cabinet last month to begin a campaign for Malacañang as leader of the opposition.
They could all finish the race outside the gate to Malacañang, that is, if the new darling of the presidential polls, Sen. Grace Poe, runs—and the polls remain true up to Election Day.
Without even saying she was a candidate, Poe zoomed past Binay in the polls last month, dropping him to second place to become the most wooed politician of the day.
Behind her, not in the findings of mainstream pollsters Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia but of the little-known Publicus Asia Survey, is not Binay but Santiago.
Santiago issued a statement, saying she was “happily surprised” by the results of the Publicus poll.
“To remain in the consciousness of voters despite an absence of over a year is certainly a challenge, including remaining in public service. And I consider it in that light,” Santiago said.
Lacson, President Aquino’s disaster czar who quit his job in December last year but delayed his departure until February, was in Naga City on Saturday and spiced up a speech to the local Rotary Club with talk of going back to politics.
He said he had made up his mind about running in 2016 but not as somebody’s running mate.
“I will have to choose between going for the presidency or just going back to the Senate, because the elections are held simultaneously,” Lacson said.
He said he would make a final decision in October. But definitely, he said, he would not run for Vice President.
At least three potential presidential candidates have not yet announced their plans to run—Poe, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said he was certain that President Aquino would endorse Roxas as the Liberal Party’s standard-bearer before July 31.
In a text message, Erice said he hoped the president would give a hint of his chosen candidate.
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