From all indications, two of the country’s main political parties – and the oldest of the lot – are all geared up for the 2010 presidential elections.

These are immediately obvious in their media campaigns even in the guise of personal advocacies led by their presidents who are both declared presidential bets of their parties.

They are careful about their media blitz euphemistically calling them advocacies as political leaders because of the ban against premature campaigning.

Senator Manuel A. Roxas II of the Liberal Party and Senator Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party are both candid about their presidential ambitions and there seems to be no way such decisions would change.

That’s perfectly alright except that they both represent the opposition and, therefore, would be fighting against each other and, of course, the administration bet.

If no disruptive changes are made, the probability of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. getting the nod of the administration’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD will be a serious threat to their candidacies.

“Gibo” Teodoro has all the aces – youth, competence, integrity, vision for the country, and well, resources. And a talented, beautiful wife.

Until last week, many thought it would be a three-cornered contest for the presidency between Villar of the NP Roxas, LP, and Teodoro of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, but with the sudden announcement by Senator Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal of her entry in the presidential derby, the political contour has suddenly changed, too.

This prompted Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. to concede that a “single opposition bet in the 2010 is a pipe dream,” and wondered under what party Madrigal would be running.

In announcing her cherished dream she said, “I came to realize that the path I should take would be to serve my country in a greater capacity,” explaining what she called the simplicity of her goal which is to offer herself as a choice for all Filipinos.

She said she would run not based on trapo principles.

As far as we can see, Madrigal’s announcement of her desire to be the country’s president remains unappreciated by the incredulous public.

For one, Villar’s Nacionalista Patry machine seems to have started making derisive comments about her joining the presidential contest short of calling it a political nuisance by “making Philippine election a colorful democratic practice,” with a strong hint of mockery.

This early animosity between Villar and Madrigal is expected to get more serious at the thick of the campaign in view of the latter’s persistent criticism of the former Senate President, particularly on his alleged involvement in the much-publicized P200-million double insertion fund for the C-5 government project.

But probably the more serious threat to all the presidential candidates is former President Joseph Estrada, if he is not disqualified by the Supreme Court because of the constitutional limitation which says, quite simply, that “The president shall not be eligible for any reelection.”

Pimentel who observed Estrada has been mobbed by people wherever he went said the former president may opt to run despite the constitutional provision “motivated by his desire to restore his honor and dignity which he lost when he was ousted and convicted of plunder.”

But that is his call.

Nobody ever ran for office against his or her will. It takes only one word to say “no” to a nomination.
(zhern_218@yahoo.com)