MANILA, Philippines—Contrary to scuttlebutt, TV game show host Willie Revillame is not among those being considered as running mate of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., the standard-bearer of the Nacionalista Party (NP).

NP spokespersons Gilbert Remulla and Adel Tamano flatly rejected a Villar-Revillame tandem, saying the possibility had not been discussed by the party.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday in the Senate, Tamano even joked that Revillame, who resumed hosting the noontime show “Wowowee” on Monday after a month-long absence, would only “jog” or run in a marathon, not in the vice presidential or senatorial race.

Remulla told GMA7’s morning show “Unang Hirit” that Villar had not asked Revillame to be his running mate in the 2010 presidential election.

“Not once did the party discuss the matter,” Remulla said. “So to all those spreading the rumor, there is no truth to that.”

Just joking

Remulla also told the Inquirer as much, adding that Revillame might have been joking when he said in a recent interview in Davao City that he was open to running for a national post, either as vice president or senator.

“This is not even mentioned in our discussions. I think before anything [is decided], Senator Villar will consult us first,” Remulla said.

“As far as I know, Willie has not even been talked about in any way connected to politics, except for his support for the Villar candidacy.”

But Revillame is an “asset,” Remulla added. “He is a good ally, a good friend to have during a campaign. It’s better to keep him on your side, especially in a presidential campaign.”

4 and counting

So far, the NP has four in its senatorial ticket—Tamano, Remulla, Sen. Pia Cayetano and Rep. Teofisto Guingona III.

The party is said to be engaged in talks with detained former Lt. Col. Ariel Querubin, the late Fernando Poe Jr.’s daughter Grace Poe, and Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo, who are all reported planning a senatorial run.

Cayetano is also reportedly being groomed to become Villar’s running mate. But talk is rife that Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada will be picked by Villar should the latter’s father, ousted President Joseph Estrada, bow out of the presidential race.

Villar himself said in an interview last month that Revillame should consider seeking a slot in the Senate: “Willie is very qualified [to run for senator]. I don’t see any problem with Willie. That’s the one thing that he should think about.”

Revillame took a leave of absence last month under pressure from his network ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, which said he had violated the broadcast code of ethics.

The criticism stemmed from Revillame’s insistence on Aug. 3 that his then ongoing show not be interrupted by a live feed of the transfer of former President Corazon Aquino’s remains from the La Salle Greenhills gym in San Juan City to Manila Cathedral in Intramuros.

Weighing his options

Revillame himself is still “studying and weighing” his options in politics.

“Pinag-aaralan ko pa at pinag-iisipan,” he told the Inquirer Tuesday in a text message.

When Revillame showed up on Monday at the “Wowowee” studio in the ABS-CBN compound, he said in Filipino: “Many people are asking if I will run, so I’ll say this ... I will run.” And then he jogged on stage briefly before resuming his hosting chore.

He refused to grant interviews to journalists who visited the studio. Through his show’s executive producers, he said he would schedule a press conference to answer questions on his political plans. With a report from Marinel Cruz