STATEMENT OF SEN. AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR.
NEWSTAND MEDIA FORUM, AMBASSADOR HOTEL

      (On Lakas-Kampi merger) I think that strangely the two parties have adopted a policy of political suicide considering that no matter what they do, if they are identified with the administration, I think they are in for a shock in 2010.

      To begin with, I am not too sure that with the so-called merger of Lakas and Kampi, there is such an authentic merger. There is a simulated merger, because Fidel Ramos was not there, Luis Villafuerte was not there. And Bayani Fernando said he would not attend his own burial.

       In other word, there is no certainly at all that the merger will hold when the time comes.

       That situation can also be said of the opposition. And the opposition will therefore do its act together so that they will be less divided than they are now. May be if you can reduce the opposition presidential aspirants from seven to two, that is better than having seven or five opposition presidential candidates

      (The aspirants are former President Joseph Estrada, Senators Manuel Villar, Loren Legarda, Mar Roxas, Francis Escudero, Panfilo Lacson and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay).

     The opposition still has a lot of things to do, which is to unify the presidentiables which President Estrada and I have been proposing.

     (On whether the quarrelling aspirants can declare a truce to pave the way for unity talks). That is easier said than done. These people are already committed, they are already bent on running. It's difficult).

    My proposal is for the presidential candidates of various opposition groups to join a national convention. And each presidentiable may be entitled to 50 to l00 delegates. In that convention, they will be allowed to speak and define their own platform to convince the people that they should be the ones to lead the opposition. There will be secret balloting. Whoever will win the balloting, all of them are bound to abide by the outcome.

     (On Estrada) Erap is a X-factor that cannot be ignored. The reason for that is Erap has a solid following. Maybe l5 to 20 percent, or at least l5 percent of the electorate who will vote for him come hell or high water. He will always be a factor in the opposition.

     I think his pronouncement is really geared towards getting the opposition presidential candidates to get together and act as one. My understanding is he will try to consolidate three or four parties and then select a presidential candidate. I don't know if he wants to head that slate or push for another one.