With his presidential bid failing to pick up, Senator Richard Gordon says he is now exploring other options, such as running for re-election in the 2010 polls.
Although he has been appearing in presidential fora sponsored by various organizations, Gordon indicated that he may change his mind about running for president.
“My plan will be announced in the next few weeks. I think that you are all aware of the fact that whatever position I aspire to, I have the qualifications,” Gordon told newsmen. “So whether it’s president, senator or whatever, I will make the announcement at the proper time.”
Three other presidential timbers, Senator Mar Roxas II and Loren Legarda along with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, have opted to run for the vice-presidential post.
Gordon had made known his intention to join the presidential race when he launched the Bagumbayan movement seven months ago.
Subsequently, he and his followers filed a petition with the Commission on Elections to accredit the Bagumbayan as a political party that he can use in case he goes ahead with his presidential candidacy.
Bagumbayan is made up mostly of Gordon’s political supporters in Olongapo City, where he served as mayor, and former and incumbent officials and workers at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority where he served as its first chairman and administrator.
But his presidential aspirations suffered a series of setbacks.
First, he performed poorly in the presidential surveys.
Second, his effort to be drafted as administration standard-bearer fizzled out. Lakas-Kampi leaders rejected his proposal for a coalition between Lakas-Kampi and Bagumbayan. Third, Bagumbayan’s application as a political party remained pending before the Comelec.
Gordon boasts productive years as lawmaker for five years and as executive for the last 26 years.
Gordon said all the agencies or organizations that he headed and administered—Olongapo City, SBMA, Tourism Department and Philippine National Red Cross—were modernized.
Known as the youngest delegate to the 197l Constitutional Convention, Gordon was elected to the Senate in 2004 under the former Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats. But he said since he did not join the Lakas as a card-bearing member, he considered himself as an independent.
When he assumed the chairmanship of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, he spearheaded the investigation of the P728-million fertilizer scam and other financial transactions of the administration.
In the process, he became estranged from the Arroyo administration.
But when Lakas merged with Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino and started its search for a presidential candidate, Gordon allowed his name to be included in the selection process. He was eventually eliminated partly because of his dismal rating in the presidential survey.
