TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines -- Former Miss Universe Margarita ?Margie? Moran-Floirendo is running for the top elective post in Davao del Norte, her husband, former Representative Antonio ?Tonyboy? Floirendo Jr. said.

Margie?s entry into politics puts her on a collision course with former political allies.

Speaking before the local media during his father?s 94th birthday on Friday, Floirendo Jr. said defections of formidable allies in District 1 to the Liberal party drained the Lakas-Kampi-CMD of possible candidates who could challenge incumbent Governor Rodolfo del Rosario.

The governor on Wednesday officially left Lakas-Kampi and took his oath before Senator and vice presidential aspirant Manuel ?Mar? Roxas II as a new LP recruit.

?Walang gustong pumayag kaya si Margie na lang ang patatakbuhin ko (Nobody wanted to run for Lakas-Kampi so I decided to field Margie),? Floirendo said.

The son of banana magnate Don Antonio Floirendo Sr. said his group has been talking about strengthening the administration party as well as filling up their ticket.

Moran-Floirendo, 55, won the 1973 Miss Universe competition in Athens, Greece when she was just 19.

Floirendo maintained he would not be running, and instead would be helping his nephew, 2nd district Representative Antonio Lagdameo, the current administration party chairman for Davao del Norte.

Two women are also being tapped to team up with the former beauty queen as the administration party?s candidates for the top three provincial elective posts.

Reported to be running for the congressional seat in the first district is former Board Member Emily Alvarez, wife of Transportation Secretary Pantaleon ?Bebot? Alvarez against former Vice Gov. Antonio Rafael del Rosario, the governor?s son. Former provincial board member Shirley Belen Aala is eyeing the vice gubernatorial seat against incumbent Vice Governor Victorio Suaybaguio Jr.

The would-be political clash is seen as yet another battle for scions of the Floirendo-Del Rosario clan.

The two families behind the Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. (TADECO), the country?s largest banana exporter, are said to be at odds with each other following the 2007 elections in which the elder Del Rosario ran for governor, a position said to be ?reserved? for Tonyboy whose term as 2nd district representative was about to end then.

Although none of the personalities have yet to file their respective certificates of candidacy, text messages announcing the former Miss Universe?s political bid has been circulating since Friday night, a provincial official said on Saturday.

?Well of course Margie is qualified (to run). She is well known, a former Miss Universe and is very active in activities with regards to Mindanao and Davao del Norte,? the younger Del Rosario said on Friday.

?We will not know really until December 1,? Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario said the news came as a surprise to him, because they were expecting the former Cabinet member Alvarez to challenge his father.

Representative Lagdameo said their group had yet to finalize things, including about Ms. Moran-Floirendo?s political bid.

?Why not?? Lagdameo said of his uncle?s plan to field Margie. ?Anyone can run.?

Asked what would be Margie?s chances against the 75-year old Del Rosario, Tonyboy said: ?Ano sa tingin ninyo? Mas magaling pa sa akin ?yun (What do you think: That woman is better than me).?