While conceding that the Liberal Party has become a formidable organization with the imminent presidential bid of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said there is no guarantee that popularity and pedigree would convert to actual votes.

Ermita, president of the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD party, said Wednesday the “Cory magic” may work well for the young Aquino but it was “premature” to declare that such phenomenon will ensure his victory in the presidential elections next year.

“It’s one to convert popularity into votes and the popularity now doesn’t mean popularity at the time when the people start going to the precincts to vote. Things can easily change.

Popularity is a big thing but let’s see how this will be transmitted to actual votes,” he said.

The administration party also said it is certain that it could match or even surpass the possible tandem of Aquino and Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II in the 2010 national elections.

Ermita said the ruling party is set to reveal its official standard bearer this month.

“The administration is confident that whatever be the (LP) tandem, it will be able to match it with the candidates that it will field,” he said, adding that the party’s victory will be enhanced by the continuing disunity within the opposition forces.

Last Tuesday night, Roxas, president of the Liberal Party, sacrificed his presidential ambition and declared support for Aquino.

Many civic groups have called on Noynoy to run for president following the death of his mother, the late President Corazaon Aquino, last month.

When asked if the vaunted Cory magic will boost Aquino’s chances in the presidency, Ermita said: “As to whether it will work for Noynoy, yes. Noynoy is indeed the son of the former president and former senator. Definitely that will work very favorable in his favor.”

“But as to assurance of victory, it’s too premature for anyone to every say it is an assurance because I don’t think it is,” he added.

Another administration official, meanwhile, said Roxas’ endorsement of Noynoy as LP standard bearer can give officials and members of the divided party a “fresh opportunity” to unite and solidify the country’s second oldest political organization.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose Atienza, who heads one of the LP factions, also welcomed the move of Roxas to give way to Aquino and said the development should be treated by all Liberal Party officials as a possible opportunity for unification.

“This is a very good opportunity to unite the Liberal Party,” Atienza said in a radio interview.

Atienza, who served as mayor of Manila for three terms under the Liberal Party, earlier said Aquino and other LP members should be part of a democratic process in choosing the LP’s candidates for next year.

The LP, which was founded by Mar’s father – the late President Manuel Roxas – in 1946, was split into two when Roxas’ faction went against President Arroyo during the height of the “Hello Garci” controversy and other issues on graft and corruption.

In May 2006, Atienza and former Presidential Management Staff chief Michael Defensor – both staunch supporters of Mrs. Arroyo – along with 13 other LP members held an election for a new set of party officials which was contested later by former Senate President Franklin Drilon and Roxas before the Commission on Elections.

Atienza was elected as LP president while Defensor won as party chairman during that breakaway election that has since been nullified by the Supreme Court no less.

Another LP member, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, said that with Roxas giving way to Noynoy, the party is anticipating all possible attacks against Aquino.

“What do you expect the opponents to do? Would the opponents be very kind to him? No, we expect some demolition job by those who are also eyeing the same position,” Biazon said.

“We are confident. And we are also confident that the opponents will try to mount a demolition job. Not only against any person but including the party, because, right now people, especially the opponents, are afraid of the Liberal Party,” he added.

He also said Senator Aquino is “showing signs” that he could be the rallying figure who could unite the LP factions, referring to Atienza and Sen. Francis Pangilinan who took an independent liberal stand but is still a member of the party.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of Makati Mayor Jejomay Binay said the president of the United Opposition is also ready to give up his presidential bid if that will help unite the opposition.

“We all know that he (Binay) considers Erap (former president Joseph Estrada) as his boss. On the other hand, he is also close to the family of the late former President Corazon Aquino. Where does that put him? So hindi malayong mangyari na a lot of people should give up certain goals set for themselves to unite the opposition and the country leading to the 2010 elections,” spokesman Lito Anzures said.

Anzures said Binay is also committed in uniting the opposition by becoming the bridge among members of the opposition even if the “Noynoy phenomenon” did not happen.

Binay announced his bid to run as president at the Makati City Hall during his 66th birthday on November 11, 2008. (With reports from Hannah Torregoza, Aris Ilagan and Francis Wakefield)