MANILA, Philippines?(UPDATE) The administration has shortlisted three possible presidential candidates, including Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Vice President Noli de Castro, but it is not closing its doors on ?people outside? the coalition and other allies, Malacañang officials said.

Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio, who heads the search committee for the ruling coalition?s standard bearer in next year?s election said the selection process has ?narrowed down to three? candidates, but he did not give names.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, however, said, ?I can mention at least two, Vice President Noli de Castro and Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.?

?The [candidate for] vice president will depend on the final choice for president and negotiations with allied parties. The criteria are winnability, track record of support for the President and the administration, and presidential qualities and qualifications,?
Claudio said.

Since politics is the ?art of the impossible,? Remonde said ?people from outside? the ruling coalition could also be considered.

?Of course again we are not ruling out our other allies, who have expressed intentions to run for president like [Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman] Bayani Fernando, Senator Dick Gordon and the others,? he said.

Earlier, Remonde singled out eight Cabinet officials as possible senatorial candidates: Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Augusto Syjuco, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, and presidential adviser on climate change Heherson Alvarez.

The administration?s senatorial slate will include incumbent administration senators and allies, Cabinet secretaries and third-term congressmen, Claudio said, adding ?internal surveys? were being conducted to finalize the lineup.

Claudio?s committee was also tasked to pursue the merger between the administration parties Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi).

He said ?opposition presidentiables? tried, but failed to ?raid? the Lakas-Kampi ranks.

The committee, he said, was working to ensure that the coalition would field only one candidate in local positions.

?We will have the strongest possible local and congressional candidates with proven record of support for the President in previous polls,? he said.

Remonde also said the administration?s selection process would not be pressured by plans of a group urging Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio to run for president to mount US-style primaries to find its presidential bet.

?I think medyo hindi kailangan nagyon na mag-scramble ang administration sa pamumulitika [I don?t think the administration needs to scramble in politicking] The President is right, the best politics is good public service,? Remonde said.