Bong Revilla a strong contender in 2016 – Lakas-CMD

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — He might be a “silent worker” but the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats believe that Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. will be a strong contender in the race for presidency in 2016.

Lakas-CMD spokesperson lawyer Raul Lambino on Thursday said Revilla has shown his strong “pulling power” for crowds in past elections, even topping the senatorial polls in 2010.

It is with the senator’s “power to gather crowds” and track record in public office that had many Lakas-CMD leaders and even former partymates entertaining the idea of having Revilla as their presidential bet, he said.

“Many have voiced out the possibility of him being our standard bearer in 2016. This is one of the reasons we are reorganizing,” he told reporters in a forum.

“We are promoting Senator Revilla, giving him chairmanship of the party, he will be our most powerful official after the meeting on Tuesday. And (Leyte) Congressman (Ferdinand) Martin Romualdez will assume presidency,” Lambino added.

Romualdez would be Lakas-CMD’s candidate for Speaker in the 16th Congress, according to Lambino.

House minority leader Danilo Suarez, Lakas-CMD’s vice chairman, has earlier hinted at the reorganization of their political party which he admitted has lost its strength.

“No one wants to align with us, we are being marginalized,” he said in a recent press conference.

Lambino said that it was understandable that no one wanted to “be identified with Lakas during the midterm elections. We have declared ourselves as the only credible opposition party.”

Despite this, he said that their political party was serious in fielding Revilla and believe that his power of drawing his own supporters would make him a worthy competition for the other presidential candidates.

“Senator Revilla would be a great factor in strengthening our ranks,” said the Lakas-CMD official.

He has however admitted that Revilla has yet to accept their proposal for him to run in the 2016 elections.

The Liberal Party has earlier announced its plans to field Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas while the United Nationalist Alliance coalition has chosen Vice President Jejomar Binay as its presidential bet.