MANILA, Philippines -- As the administration prepares for the 2010 polls with the merger of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Kampi (Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino), Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. called on everyone in the opposition to unify and field a common presidential candidate in 2010.

"I would like to tell them that as much as possible, there should only be one presidential candidate for the opposition. If there are so many candidates, this will only split the votes of opposition supporters," he said.

Warning of another administration win if the opposition is split, Pimentel reminded his fellow oppositionists of the results of the 2004 presidential elections when actor Fernando Poe Jr. and Senator Panfilo Lacson both ran for president.

"It will also be easier for the administration to cheat," he warned.

He named Senate President Manuel Villar (Nacionalista Party) and Senators Mar Roxas (Liberal Party), Loren Legarda (Nationalist People's Coalition), and Panfilo Lacson, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, and even former president Joseph Estrada as among those who might run for the country's top post.

Estrada has signified intention to seek reelection despite questions on whether he is covered by the constitutional ban against a second term.

Pimentel said unification also means that the opposition groups will have a common ticket for the senatorial, congressional and local government posts at stake.

"I hope that will happen. As it is, we have our hands full trying to minimize conflicts involving various opposition groups," he said.

Pimentel, chairman of PDP-Laban, said he prefers younger opposition leaders to take a crack at the presidency and to lead the country.

On the qualifications that a presidential candidate must possess, he said: "What is important is not that we should have a person who knows how to dance or sing on the stage but who has a solid platform that he can explain to the people the reason why he is running for the highest position in the land."