MANILA, Philippines?Former members of President Macapagal-Arroyo?s Cabinet, who quit en masse in 2005 and called for her resignation over the ?Hello Garci? scandal, are in the inner circle of advisers of presidential aspirant Sen. Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III.

One of them, Florencio ?Butch? Abad, a vice president of the Liberal Party (LP), heads the ?moving force? behind Aquino?s emergence as the party?s standard-bearer in next year?s election, according to Quezon Rep. Lorenzo ?Erin? Tañada III, LP spokesperson.

Abad, a former education secretary, confirmed that he was in Aquino?s inner circle, along with Cesar Purisima, a former finance secretary, and Juan Santos, a former trade secretary.

The three were part of the so-called Hyatt 10, a group of Cabinet members who resigned to protest the alleged widespread electoral fraud in 2004.

In a phone interview, Abad said he, Purisima and Santos were working closely with Aquino?s four sisters in charting the LP presidential candidate?s next moves.

The three were also giving advice to Sen. Manuel ?Mar? Roxas II, who abandoned last week his plan to seek the presidency in order to make way for Aquino. Roxas is expected to become Aquino?s running mate.

?It?s not difficult to work out this campaign because both Noynoy and Mar (Roxas) have basically the same message and priorities, such as addressing poverty and decency in government,? he said.

Alternative route

Abad said other members of the Hyatt 10, notably former Social Welfare Secretary Corazon ?Dinky? Soliman and former peace adviser Teresita Deles, would take the lead in the second, nonconventional campaign track to be taken by Aquino.

?We have to take this alternative route because we cannot fight the administration with its machinery and other candidates with money, like Manny Villar,? he said.

Abad said the core group would focus on the traditional campaign and zero in on consolidating the LP?s forces while raiding the Lakas-Kampi, Nationalist People?s Coalition and other parties for Coryistas or supporters of Aquino?s mother, the late former President Corazon Aquino.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who is president of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said it would not be surprising if members of the administration coalition would transfer to the LP or any party for that matter.

?All parties are doing their best to attract Lakas-Kampi members because it?s the biggest party. So we cannot deny that could happen,? Ermita said.

Abad said Aquino?s declaration of his presidential bid brought the 2010 election race back to square one, rendering all surveys of voters? preferences ?irrelevant? with the outpouring of emotional support for Aquino.

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon, who served as labor secretary and executive secretary during the Aquino administration, said the LP had to take an ?unorthodox tack? in the campaign, considering that Noynoy had just a few days to get ready for the polls compared to his rivals who have been preparing for years.

Prime opposition party?

But Drilon was confident that Noynoy Aquino?s declaration had fortified the LP?s mantle as the prime opposition party in the country and the real alternative to the Arroyo administration.

With Roxas, whose political stock has soared since his ?sacrifice? to give way to Aquino, as the latter?s wing man, Drilon said the party would present a comprehensive platform encompassing two terms or 12 years should both be elected next year.

Long-term vision

Tañada concurred, saying ?this puts us in a unique position of having long-term vision and planning that would be beneficial to the country.?

Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, an LP member, said he welcomed Aquino?s decision to pick Roxas as running mate.

?If Senator Mar will accept his invitation to be vice president, they would make a formidable tandem, a team that will perform and a team that people can trust,? Biazon said. With a report from TJ Burgonio