Aquino taps 4 bets for Senate

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

President Benigno Aquino III has revealed four names that are certain to be included in the administration’s senatorial ticket in 2013.

These are Customs Commissioner Ruffino Biazon, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority head Joel Villanueva, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Akbayan party-list member Risa Hontiveros.

“We have four candidates already that have been decided,” Aquino said in an open forum during a meeting of alumni of United States universities in Makati on Wednesday night.

“As you know, there are a lot more applicants than slots. There are at least 24, probably 32 that are applying for the 12 slots,” he said.

Still premature

The President begged off from naming the other potential candidates of the administration coalition, saying, “it’ll be too premature to tell you all of the other candidates.”

“And it will be unfair for those who have or are applying but might not be accepted to announce their names at this time,” he added.

Of the four the President mentioned, only Biazon belongs to the ruling Liberal Party that Aquino chairs.

Villanueva is a leader of the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption party-list group while Angara is a member of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

Villanueva is now a constant companion of President Aquino when the latter has speaking engagements outside of Malacañang. Aquino, in his speeches, also mentions Villanueva for his achievements in the Tesda.

Senator’s son

Aquino also indicated support for Angara’s senatorial bid in a recent provincial trip, saying the congressman’s job as a spokesperson for the prosecution panel in the impeachment trial  of Chief Justice Renato Corona has made practicing law difficult.

Angara, who is on his third and last term as Aurora representative, is a son of Sen. Edgardo Angara who is also on his third and last term at the Senate.

Despite the apparent endorsement from the President, Angara Thursday said he has not decided yet whether to run for the Senate and is waiting for public opinion polls before making his move.

“I think we should wait for the mid-year survey before we make our final decision,” he told a press briefing.

Biazon thanked the President for the announcement but admitted that he was still not completely sure about making another Senate run.

“I would have to assess if I have the capability to win. Maybe it’s 60/40. Sixty percent sure about running and 40 percent unsure,” said the former congressman from Muntinlupa who admitted to being “more comfortable” in Congress.

Biazon and Hontiveros ran under the LP slate in the 2010 senatorial elections. They both finished within the top 20 but outside the winning circle.

No ‘lame duck’

Biazon Thursday denied claims that he had become a “lame duck” at customs after Aquino’s announcement.

He said he still had a lot to do in cleaning up the BOC, which is perceived to be one of the most corrupt agencies in government.

“My concern is that, with that announcement, they may no longer follow me and undermine my authority or put color to it and say that I’m using it for my candidacy. That would be painful,” Biazon said.

“Definitely, I will have to show that I can clean this up. With regard to my authority while I’m still here, I would just have to exercise it,” he said.

But House deputy speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, an LP member and also a prosecution spokesperson, is definitely clear about his political plans for 2013.

“Yes, I’m planning to run for the Senate,” Tañada, who is on his last term as Quezon representative, told reporters Thursday. With Leila Salaverria