MANILA, Philippines -- Only President Macapagal-Arroyo can save the ruling party from disintegration by running for the number two position in the 2010 elections.

Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said that some of the members of Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) believed that Arroyo would provide Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, the party?s anticipated standard bearer, with the best odds of winning in 2010 and dissuade the majority of members from deserting the party.

?It will be easy to raid Lakas-Kampi, if Gibo (Teodoro?s campaign name) does not improve his ratings soon. But Arroyo can change all of that by running as his vice president because members will then think they can win it all and stay put,? said Suarez in a phone interview.

Arroyo is also rumored to be running as representative in her hometown Pampanga in 2010, with an eye on bidding to become Speaker of the House and leading Charter change moves in the 15th Congress. ?But this plan will only pan out if Gibo wins. So we believe that only by running for vice president can she ensure the unity of the party and its continued dominance in the next administration,? said Suarez.

Suarez said Lakas-Kampi would hold an executive committee meeting on Wednesday where he would raise the issue of Arroyo?s bid for vice president in 2010. President Arroyo herself would preside over the meeting, which would also tackle the party?s convention on November 19.

?We have to be pragmatic in politics. If the President herself is the best one for the job, why not her? She is still young and she knows that it?s hard to take politics out of her system that easy. If she is really perceived to be as unpopular as her critics claim, why are they afraid of her running?? asked Suarez.

Despite the defections threatening the party?s supremacy in 2010, Suarez and other party officials said that talks of Lakas-Kampi?s demise at this point were exaggerated.

Suarez saw the movements in the political arena as realignments rather than defections. ?We are the biggest party in the land and naturally we will have candidates in all areas including those where we have rival members. Those who are not chosen will go to another party, that is just how politics is,? said Suarez.

Lakas-Kampi executive director Reginald Velasco said that the party would rather have members in the local level who would support their national ticket rather than have members who were torn between their party and their old loyalties. ?Lakas and Kampi are relatively new parties and most of our members were either Liberal or Nacionalista before and they are perceived to have the front-runners for 2010. We believe we can have 50 percent of all incumbent congressmen, governors, and mayors on our side by 2010 and that will still be formidable,? said Velasco.

Lakas-Kampi executive director Ray Roquero shrugged off the reported massive defections from the country?s largest political party to resurgent, old school parties Liberal and Nacionalista.

?There?s no exodus. On the contrary, we are getting bigger and stronger because of the entry of more incumbent representatives, governors and mayors. The few who were forced to seek other parties were expected to do it in a desperate bid to shore up their chances,? said Roquero in a text message.

Roquero said that those who have jumped ship were ?insignificant? and would not cripple the merged party, which had yet to come up with a partner for its anticipated standard bearer, Teodoro.

Former Liberal Party members who are joining the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, according to Roquero, are Representatives Alvin Sandoval (Malabon Navotas), Magtanggol Gunigundo (Valenzuela), Mary Mitzy Cajayon (Caloocan), Glen Chong (Biliran), Reynaldo Uy (Western Samar), RodolfoValencia (Oriental Mindoro), Solomon Chungalao (Ifugao),), and Jose Antonio Roxas (Pasay City).

Roquero expected Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao, Samar Rep. Paul Daza and South Cotabato Rep. Arthur Pingoy to follow suit.

From local government, Roquero said, Marinduque Governor Jose Antonio Carrion, Basilan Governor Jum Akbar and Camiguin Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo would further boost the party?s ranks with their entry.

?Nothing to worry about,? said Roquero.