2010 Elections

From WikiPilipinas: The Hip 'n Free Philippine Encyclopedia

The next Philippine presidential elections is still two and a half years away. This early however, politicians left and right are already positioning themselves for the political fight ahead. The revival of the Hello Garci scandal, the smear campaign against Vice-President Noli de Castro, and the possibility of filing another impeachment case against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are too familiar to Filipinos who have just been through the 2007 national elections. And while the seats of some officials have not even heated yet, some have already started their political caravan for 2010.

The campaign for the 2010 elections has unofficially started. Although nobody has explicitly signified the intention to run for 2010, many seem to be considering. Which personalities are interested? Which parties will they join? Who are they teaming up with?

WikiPilipinas has come up with a 2010 elections series to provide Filipinos with a guide for the next elections. The following personalities could be considered as the looming 2010 presidentiables:

1 Noli de Castro
- 1.1 Charges filed against De Castro, wife
2 Richard Gordon
3 Ping Lacson
- 3.1 The reopening of the Hello Garci scandal
4 Loren Legarda
- 4.1 Pulse Asia survey
5 Kiko Pangilinan
6 Mar Roxas
- 6.1 Pulse Asia survey
- 6.2 Roxas:'I can do a better job'
7 Gilbert Teodoro
8 Manny Villar
9 References
10 Citation

[edit] Noli de Castro

“Kabayan Noli”, as he is more popularly known, was the most prominent personality in Philippine prime-time television broadcasting until he entered politics in 2001. De Castro topped the senatorial elections that same year. In 2004, De Castro successfully ran for the vice presidency alongside President Macapagal-Arroyo.

[edit] Charges filed against De Castro, wife

On August 16, 2007, brothers Jhoveenel Ombus and Arjurie Omar Sinsuat Olor filed charges of bigamy, falsification of documents, perjury, and obstruction of justice against Vice President Noli De Castro and the woman they call their mother, Arlene Sinsuat de Castro, now the wife of the De Castro. The Vice President denied the accusations saying the charges were obviously politically-motivated, designed to ruin his chances in the 2010 presidential elections.

[edit] Richard Gordon

The transformation of Olongapo City from the remnants of a former US Naval base to a premier economic zone is attributed to the efforts of its former mayor, Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon. Gordon also chaired the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority while serving as mayor of the said city. In 2004, Gordon launched a successful campaign that got him elected in the Senate. He is also the head of the Philippine National Red Cross.

[edit] Ping Lacson

Ping Lacson is a two-term Philippine senator who, in 2004, ran for president but lost to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He is a product of the Philippine Military Academy and is known for his no-nonsense attitude and swagger rarely seen in a politician. It was during his term as Director-General of the Philippine National Police from 1999 to 2001 that the public saw a significant improvement in the law enforcement in the country. This was evident from his campaign of instituting a waistline measurement requirement for policemen to the considerable drop in Philippine crime rate during his leadership of the PNP.

[edit] The reopening of the Hello Garci scandal

Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile saw the reopening of the Hello Garci scandal as “in aid of” the 2010 elections, implying that the privileged speech reviving the said issue delivered by Senator Lacson in August 2007 was a move to advance his presidential ambitions. According to Senator Lacson however, “the privileged speech was in aid of all future elections, not just the 2010 presidential elections.” The senator also partly agrees partly, with the accusations because he is “sure that [the reopening of the Hello Garci Scandal] is the desire of every Filipino voter.”

[edit] Loren Legarda

Loren Legarda is one of the most respected broadcast journalists in the Philippines. She has hosted celebrated current affairs programs on television such as The Inside Story and The World Tonight. Legarda is a multi-awarded broadcast journalist and among the numerous accolades that she has receieved were the the Catholic Mass Media Hall of Fame Award and the KBP Golden Dove Award. Legarda was elected to the Philippine Seante in 1998 . In 2004, Legarda ran for Vice President but lost to broadcast colleague Noli De Castro.

[edit] Pulse Asia survey

In July 2007, Legarda beat four other 2010 presidentiables in a Pulse Asia survey on public awareness and trust. She got a trust rating of 71% (76% trust, 5% distrust). Her closest rival was Senator Mar Roxas who had a trust rating of 58%.

[edit] Kiko Pangilinan

Kiko Pangilinan first gained public exposure in the public-service program 'Hoy Gising!' where he gave free legal assistance on-air. This however was not the first time he was heard as Pangilinan was the chairman the University of the Philippines Student Council in 1986. He was also the first Student Regent of the UP Board of Regents. Pangilinan first entered politics as a councilor in Quezon City where he founded the National Movement of Young Legislators (NMYL). In 1997, he earned a Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. In 2001, Pangilinan was elected to the Philippine Senate and was re-elected in May 2007. As of, September 2007, Pangilinan is the Majority Floor Leader of the Philippine Senate.

[edit] Mar Roxas

Going by “Mr. Palengke” since his campaign for the Senate three years ago, Mar Roxas is regarded as one of the leading contenders for the 2010 presidential elections. After serving as Trade and Industry Secretary from 1999 to 2003, Roxas was elected to the Philippine Senate, garnering more than 19 million votes. It was the highest ever number of votes garnered by candidate in any Philippine national elections. Roxas holds a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Economics in Pennsylvania, USA. He is the son of former Senator Gerardo Roxas and grandson of former Philippine President Manuel Roxas.

[edit] Pulse Asia survey

Senator Roxas ranked 2nd in a July 2007 Pulse Asia survey on public awareness and trust. He got a public trust rating of 58%. Loren Legarda topped the survey with a 71% trust rating.

[edit] Roxas:'I can do a better job'

In a television interview in late August 2007, Senator Roxas declared he could do "a better job" and bring the Philippines to a "better place". Although he did not directly answer questions about his intention to join the 2010 presidential race, Roxas had this to say, "Do I want change for our country? The answer is yes. Do I think I can do a better job? The answer is yes. Do I think that our country could be in a much better place? The answer is yes."

[edit] Gilbert Teodoro

Gilbert Teodoro is the Secretary of National Defense. Although he is often introduced as the nephew of San Miguel Corporation's Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., his appointment has more to do with his sterling records in both law and business rather than with his affinity to Cojuangco. Teodoro graduated from De La Salle University with a degree in Management. He holds a law degree from the University of the Philippines and a master’s degree from the Harvard Law School. In 1989, Teodoro topped the bar exams becoming one of the youngest bar topnotchers in the country. Teodoro also holds the rank of full colonel in the Reserve Force of the Philippine Air Force.

[edit] Manny Villar

Former House Speaker and now Senate President Manny Villar has been a major player in the Philippine political arena since his 1992 landslide victory as congressional representative of Las Piñas. A businessman by trade, Villar has received various awards for marketing such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men and Agora Award. He is well-remembered for playing a significant role in the impeachment of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada. Villar is also considered as one of the significant personalities of People Power II in 2001.