MABALACAT, Pampanga-Vice Pres. Noli de Castro has remained the Arroyo administration’s top contender for president in the 2010 elections, press secretary Cerge Remonde said here yesterday.
In an interview with local newsmen during the induction ceremonies for the new officers of the 60-year-old Pampanga Press Club, Remonde cited three reasons why De Castro is likely to be anointed administration presidential candidate.
“He has been leading the surveys, he has stood by the President through thick and thin, and he has proven himself (as housing czar of the administration),” he said.
But Remonde noted that nothing is yet final in the choice of presidential candidate.
“Of course, there’s Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro,” he said, even as he debunked an earlier statement of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri that the administration has dropped Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando as among those being considered as possible administration bet.
Remonde said that Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte is also in the short list of administration presidentiables, but noted that “he seems reluctant, though”.
He also noted that Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Ephraim Genuino “has been showing enthusiasm” for the presidency.
But he again stressed that “as of now Vice Pres. De Castro is really the leading contender.”
Remonde also said that with many presidentiables in the administration, it is likely that one of them would “slide” into being vice presidential bet.
De Castro, who was guest of honor and speaker at the press club rites, declined to categorically declare his presidential ambition although he had been quoted in the past as saying he would “never” run for reelection and would seek a “higher post” should he decide to run for an elective post in the 2010 polls.
“What the President and I would like to do is to double our efforts so that we can finish our targets in the remaining 15 months in our terms,” he said.
De Castro said he has refrained from making a categorical announcement of his plans in 2010 to avoid being “politicized”.
This, even as he also said he found “nothing wrong” with the President running for congresswoman in Pampanga’s second district in the 2010 polls, although Malacañang has already denied this.
Some sectors have linked the President’s recent frequent visits to Pampanga, her home province, to her alleged plans to run for congresswoman to pave the way for her assumption as prime minister should a Charter change pave the way for a parliamentary government.
De Castro said, however, that he heard about such scenario only from one newspaper report.
In an interview with local newsmen during the induction ceremonies for the new officers of the 60-year-old Pampanga Press Club, Remonde cited three reasons why De Castro is likely to be anointed administration presidential candidate.
“He has been leading the surveys, he has stood by the President through thick and thin, and he has proven himself (as housing czar of the administration),” he said.
But Remonde noted that nothing is yet final in the choice of presidential candidate.
“Of course, there’s Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro,” he said, even as he debunked an earlier statement of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri that the administration has dropped Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando as among those being considered as possible administration bet.
Remonde said that Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte is also in the short list of administration presidentiables, but noted that “he seems reluctant, though”.
He also noted that Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Ephraim Genuino “has been showing enthusiasm” for the presidency.
But he again stressed that “as of now Vice Pres. De Castro is really the leading contender.”
Remonde also said that with many presidentiables in the administration, it is likely that one of them would “slide” into being vice presidential bet.
De Castro, who was guest of honor and speaker at the press club rites, declined to categorically declare his presidential ambition although he had been quoted in the past as saying he would “never” run for reelection and would seek a “higher post” should he decide to run for an elective post in the 2010 polls.
“What the President and I would like to do is to double our efforts so that we can finish our targets in the remaining 15 months in our terms,” he said.
De Castro said he has refrained from making a categorical announcement of his plans in 2010 to avoid being “politicized”.
This, even as he also said he found “nothing wrong” with the President running for congresswoman in Pampanga’s second district in the 2010 polls, although Malacañang has already denied this.
Some sectors have linked the President’s recent frequent visits to Pampanga, her home province, to her alleged plans to run for congresswoman to pave the way for her assumption as prime minister should a Charter change pave the way for a parliamentary government.
De Castro said, however, that he heard about such scenario only from one newspaper report.
