MANILA, Philippines — After losing former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto to the opposition and failing to persuade others in the Cabinet to run, the ruling coalition may not be able to field a complete senatorial slate in the May elections, stalwarts said Tuesday.

“We won’t field a complete slate. Probably only eight to 10 candidates,” Prospero Pichay, Lakas-Kampi-CMD vice president for accreditation and membership, said in a phone interview.

The party is proclaiming its standard-bearer, former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., his running mate actor-TV host Edu Manzano and the senatorial candidates at its convention on Thursday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

Cabinet entries

Lakas-Kampi-CMD is eyeing to adopt Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and field administration Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, Pichay said.

In the Cabinet, the possible senatorial candidates include Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III and adviser on climate change Secretary Heherson Alvarez, according to the ruling party’s deputy secretary general, Ray Roquero.

But apart from them, the party is also keen on fielding broadcast veteran journalist and dwIZ station manager Rey Langit and Mayor Ramon Guico of Binalonan, Pangasinan, president of the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines, Roquero said.

“They will be part of the slate,” he said by phone.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano of the Nationalist People’s Coalition has begged off. But Lakas-Kampi-CMD is talking with his party mate, Dangerous Drugs Board Chair and former Sen. Vicente Sotto III, to seek reelection under the administration banner, according to Roquero.

Caught flat-footed

Recto, a former senator, had been mentioned as among the administration’s senatorial candidates. He defected to the Liberal Party over the weekend.

“This has caught us flat-footed,” said the party legal counsel, Secretary Raul Gonzalez.

Recto ran for reelection under the administration party in 2007 and lost.

Asked why there are a few takers, especially among Cabinet members, Gonzalez said the long gap between the Dec. 1 deadline for the filing candidacy and the start of the official campaign in February must have discouraged officials from running.

“That could be one factor,” Gonzalez admitted when asked if the public’s low perception of the scandal-plagued administration could be a reason.