MANILA, Philippines—The administration party Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) will finally make known its slate in a national convention on November 19, a party official said Wednesday.

Reggie Velasco, Lakas-Kampi deputy secretary general, said the convention would be held at the Philippine International Convention Center at 9 a.m.

“It would be a spectacular convention,” Velasco told reporters at the Ayes and Nays forum in Quezon City. “Marami kaming gagawin na di ginagawa ng ibang partido (Many things will be done that other parties have never done).”

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to attend the event, where the ruling party’s vice presidential bet will be announced.

The party is still searching for the candidate who would be teamed up with its standard-bearer, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, who was earlier nominated by the national executive committee.

Reports have said that Lakas-Kampi-CMD is in negotiations with the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) of businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco.

In the same forum, Valenzuela Representative Rex Gatchalian, NPC spokesman, said the party is consulting its members whether they want to support a presidential candidate in the May 2010 election.

NPC’s prospective standard-bearer left the party last week. But its vice presidential candidate, Senator Loren Legarda, stayed.

Gatchalian said it could also be possible that members would support different presidential candidates and unite behind Legarda. After the election, members would regroup anew as a party, Gatchalian said. He added this was the case during the 2004 election.

Nacionalista Party (NP) spokesman Adel Tamano said talks are ongoing between the party and the camp of Legarda and Escudero, who are being eyed as vice president to Senator Manuel Villar.

Asked who they are talking to in Escudero’s camp, Tamano said, “Let’s put it this way and I wish I could say who are we talking to, but as far as I know, there are negotiations.”
Vice President Noli de Castro is also among those being considered as Villar’s partner, Tamano said.

As for the senatorial slates of the parties, Lakas-Kampi said it will likely field Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid, both re-electionists, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Augusto Syjuco of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Re-electionist Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile may run also under the administration party.

The NP has four in its line-up – Re-electionist Senator Pia Cayetano, Tamano, former congressman Gilbert Remulla, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto, jailed Marine officer Ariel Querubin, and possibly Representative Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna.

Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano, Agusan del Sur Representative Rodolfo Plaza, former Senator Vicente Sotto III, and Susan “Toots” Ople, daughter of the late Senator Blas Ople are in the slate of the NPC.

The parties said they are leaving slots for possible coalition with other parties.