By Joyce Pangco Pañares, Christine Herrera

Vice President Noli de Castro has emerged on top of a list of possible standard-bearer for the ruling Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats in the 2010 national election.

Majority of Lakas leaders who attended the party’s expanded executive committee meeting were pitching for De Castro, who ran and won as vice president in 2004 under the party, a source in Lakas said yesterday.

The two-day meeting also discussed the party’s senatorial lineup as well as the progress of the proposed merger with Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino, founded by President Arroyo, who is now chairman of Lakas. The merger is intended to boost the election chances of both parties, since they will field a common presidential candidate and senatorial ticket.

“Since he [De Castro] is already the second highest elected official in the land, majority of the Lakas leaders felt that he should be the standard-bearer. So while nothing is final yet, the vice president is the frontrunning choice,” the source said.

The other officials on the list of potential standard-bearer are Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Richard Gordon, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

According to presidential adviser on political affairs Gabriel Claudio, several names for the senatorial ticket came up.

“We do not have a shortage of credible, strong and good candidates,” said Claudio, who was appointed by the President to head the National Consolidation and Unification Committee that will spearhead efforts to merge Lakas with Kampi.

Among the possible senatorial bets are incumbent Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Lito Lapid and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Other names that were floated were presidential adviser on climate change Heherson Alvarez, Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza, Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, acting Philippine National Railways Chairman Michael Defensor, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando, Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, former Senator Tessie Aquino Oreta, Optical Media Board Chairman Edu Manzano, former congressman Butch Pichay, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, Socio-economic Planning chief Ralph Recto, incoming Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, National Security Adviser deputy director general Luis “Chavit” Singson, and Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Vicente Sotto III. Ephraim Genuino, president of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and businessman Martin Romualdez are also on the Lakas list.

“Credentials and qualifications will play a big role in the selection process to enable the party to field the best possible candidates. But the final list will be announced after the merger with Kampi,” Claudio said.

Claudio said it would take at least three months to finish the merger at the national level.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles shared Claudio’s optimism, saying that the Lakas-Kampi merger has begun at the grassroots. “The merger has begun. We are finished with the merger of Lakas-Kampi forces in Davao and Cordillera provinces from mayors, congressmen to governors,” Nograles said at a news conference at the House of Representatives yesterday.

“We have no problem with the idea of a merger because the directive came from the common chairman of Lakas and Kampi, President Arroyo,” said Nograles, Lakas president.

The Lakas negotiating panel is in constant touch with Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Kampi chairman.

But Nograles said he, being Lakas president, is also in constant touch with Kampi president, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, who is said to be opposed to the merger.