LP to offer half of 12-man Senate slate to outsiders
THE RULING Liberal Party (LP) is aiming to form a coalition senatorial slate for next year’s elections by setting aside at least half of the slots on its 12-member ticket for outsiders.
An LP source, who was privy to the selection process but not authorized to speak for the party, said the coalition being formed would be called “Koalisyon sa Daang Matuwid.”
The administration party has already confirmed the inclusion of reelectionists Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senators Ralph Recto and Teofisto Guingona III, and former Sen. Francis Pangilinan.
Another four slots have been reserved for outgoing Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla, outgoing Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) chief Joel Villanueva and outgoing Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino.
The source said those vying for the four or five slots in the senatorial ticket were Sen. Serge Osmeña, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar of the Nacionalista Party, former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and Mark Lapid, general manager of the Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority.
LP leaders were divided on whether to retain Tolentino following the brouhaha over a group of twerking female dancers he brought to entertain the crowd at an LP-sponsored event in Sta Cruz, Laguna province.
A number of LP leaders agree with Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.’s view that Tolentino should not wait for the LP decision but make the decision himself whether to run under the administration ticket next year.
P-Noy endorses Tesda chief
The senatorial candidacy of Villanueva got a boost from a friend, President Aquino, who heaped praises on the outgoing Tesda director general.
In his speech during the agency’s Scholars’ Day program at Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, the President said he was sure Villanueva would be “the kind of leader this nation needs.”
“He can help more people the moment he is placed in a higher position,” said Mr. Aquino.
The President described the Tesda chief as “dedicated, hardworking and disciplined,” noting the former University of Santo Tomas cager would be a “star player” in any agency or body he would join.
At the same time, he cited stories of some Tesda graduates whose lives have improved due to the Department of Labor and Employment-attached agency.
Before the President’s remarks, Villanueva announced that he would run for senator.
“I am Joel Villanueva, certified barista, from the tech-voc (technical-vocational) sector. I will be applying to be your representative in the Senate,” he told the crowd.
This was greeted by thunderous applause from about 6,000 Tesda scholars, legislators, local government officials and other guests.
He thanked Mr. Aquino for giving him the opportunity to head Tesda from July 2010 to the present.
Best coach
Villanueva called the President the “best mentor and best coach” and for “championing tech-voc in the country.”
He also cited his father, evangelist Eddie Villanueva, who incidentally was celebrating his birthday Tuesday, and mother Dory.
“You’re the reason why I’m here today,” he said. “I’m following in the footsteps of someone so I will not lose direction.”
On Monday night, Villanueva said in a text message to the Inquirer that he would announce (his senatorial bid) on Oct. 6, “my Dad’s birthday.”
‘Villanueva 2016’
In a chance interview, Villanueva welcomed the President’s remarks as “very heartening.”
“I’ve learned from this administration that much is given, much is required. With those statements I will persevere more and learn what the President and the public expect from me,” said Villanueva, who wore a dark blue polo shirt emblazoned with a yellow “Villanueva 2016” stitch and bright yellow sneakers to the event.
Asked if his attire meant that he would be joining the LP senatorial lineup, Villanueva said that it was “difficult to comment,” adding that he would rather wait for the administration party’s announcement in the coming days.
He reiterated though that if the President would not give his “100-percent blessing,” he would not run in the 2016 elections.
Tesda platform
Villanueva, who is set to tender his resignation today, said he would be bringing to the Senate his Tesda platform, which stands for “trabaho” (work), education, service, dignity and “asenso” (success).
He earlier said he was not comfortable running with De Lima under the same ticket given that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had included him in the third batch of current and former lawmakers to be charged in connection with the pork barrel scam.
Villanueva, a former party-list congressman, was accused of receiving P2.33 million in kickbacks in dealing with Janet Lim-Napoles’ bogus foundations, which purportedly implemented ghost projects for kickbacks. Napoles is said to be the mastermind behind the P10-billion pork barrel scam.
Asked what his dynamic with De Lima would be, Villanueva said that he’d rather wait for the LP’s decision but stressed his stand on “truth, justice and reason.”
“I will not be a hypocrite and say that I’ll be comfortable. I know my calling. I know what I want to give to our countrymen this coming election. I will not be distracted by anyone or any group of people or organization for that matter,” he told reporters.
De Lima on Tesda chief
De Lima on Tuesday said that she had no problems running with Villanueva and Tolentino.
“It’s [Villanueva’s] problem if he’s not comfortable with me. He should understand and should know that there are no personal motives involved [in my decisions as DOJ chief]. Did you hear me react the first time I heard him say that? I did not because I understand him. That it’s a spur of the moment (thing),” De Lima said.
“But if that’s what he is saying until now, that is his problem,” she added.
On Tolentino, De Lima said what she knew was the MMDA chair was being investigated by the LP leadership. She said she was not an LP member.
“So, let us see if it’s true that he had something to do with the gifting of the group to the birthday celebrant. I don’t want to judge while the investigation is not yet over. Again, it’s not for me do decide,” she said.
Tech-voc scholars
However, De Lima said that as a public official, she wished the incident should not have happened. “That is very deplorable, that is very unfortunate that in a public gathering, in a public event, there are things like these which degrade the image of women.”
At the Tesda Scholars’ Day program, the “biggest gathering” of tech-voc students from regions like Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon and Ilocos, Villanueva said Tesda had “come a long way in our efforts to understand and put into action what matters most for the youth and the technical-vocational education system.”
“Relevant, innovative and accessible are qualities that should always rock the tech-voc system as it moves forward,” he said.
Other top government officials who attended the gathering included Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma and Sen. Bam Aquino.
The event with the theme “Pagpupugay sa mga Tesda Iskolar,” aimed to “showcase the successful implementation of the agency’s scholarship programs and hail the achievements of the scholars.”
It also recognized the “fruitful partnership of Tesda with various organizations in the private sector,” said a Malacañang briefing paper.
Outstanding tech-voc graduates were cited through videos, which chronicled their “journeys from poverty to success.”
Three scholars shared their experiences on how tech-voc gave them better lives. They were Merryl Llorvin Santos, a visual graphic artist from Parañaque City; Cristina Reyes from Manpower Training Center in San Jose, Batangas province; and Renji Arcilla, owner of Habitat Spa in Dagupan City, Pangasinan province.
Representatives of tech-voc institutions, local government units and the private sector gave testimonies on their partnership with the agency.
