By Fel V. Maragay

If nothing is clear yet on who will be the administration?s presidential bet in the 2010 elections, it?s partly because President Arroyo does not want to talk about this issue.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said yesterday that the President was irked when a group of her legislative allies inquired from her on the prospective administration standard-bearer during a meeting at Malaca?ang last week.

?We raised this question but she brushed it aside,? Zubiri told a press briefing. ?She even chided us for bringing up this subject.?

Zubiri, secretary-general of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, said the same issue cropped up when the President met with him and local party leaders during her visit to Bukidnon last week. But he said Mrs. Arroyo simply evaded the issue.

He said the President told them that she wanted to concentrate on her work.

Lakas is at a loss over who its presidential bet will be because Vice President Noli de Castro has cold-shouldered its invitation to join the party and undergo its selection process. De Castro is the bankable candidate because he consistently topped the presidential preference surveys including the latest Social Weather Stations poll ranking him tops among presidential timbers. Reacting to the survey results, De Castro expressed gratitude for the trust and confidence given to him by the people. But he refused to talk about his political plans at this point in time, saying that politicking should take a backseat.

Another Lakas stalwart, chairman Ephraim Genuino of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., has also expressed interest in running for president.

The only Lakas leader who has openly expressed his intention to run for president is Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando.

Fernando has always been among the tailenders in the opinion polls.

A third prospective administration bet for president is emerging.

Lakas executive director Raymundo Roquero disclosed that the ruling party may tap Senator Ramon ?Bong? Revilla Jr. as its standard bearer in the 2010 elections.

Roquero said several Lakas leaders are convincing Revilla to make himself available for presidential nomination. He said the senator from Cavite was quoted by Mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Pampanga, as saying that he is ?ready and available? for the party?s presidential nomination.

Roquero said Revilla could bank on his rich experience as a former governor of Cavite and as senator to know the needs of the people and the kind of leadership demanded by them.

But Zubiri said members of the Lakas executive committee will meet next month to hold initial discussions on the party?s candidates for president, vice president, senators and other elective positions.

He said the ruling party also plans to hold a national convention in March to tackle matters related to the 2010 polls.

According to Zubiri, Lakas leaders are not looking into the possibility of waging the election campaign of their candidates on the basis of their affiliation with the party and not with the administration.

?It will be a party-led campaign and not an administration-led campaign,? he said.

But Zubiri said they will exert efforts to try and coalesce with other parties including those belonging to the opposition.