A senior administration congressman asked Sunday Vice President Noli de Castro to stop playing “hard to get” by snubbing suggestions that he join the merged Lakas-Kampi-CMD and vie for the 2010 presidential nomination.

In a statement, Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano, Lakas-Kampi-CMD district chairman for the province, said selection of the party’s 2010 standard bearer will have to commence with or without De Castro.

Albano said the party will not wait until November, the time sought by De Castro to announce his decision. The Commission on Elections has given a November deadline for all 2010 bets to file their certificates of candidacy.

“The party’s actions will not be dependent on the vice president’s convenience. He needs the party more than it needs him,” Albano said as he revealed that many party leaders have started to abandon the idea that De Castro would join and run under the Lakas-Kampi CMD banner. “The party will have viable alternatives,” he underlined.

Albano’s statement followed the party announcement that Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, touted as the most qualified presidential bet in 2010, will take his oath as member of the administration-backed party. With De Castro out of the Lakas-Kampi CMD presidential race, Teodoro could easily win the party presidential nomination because of his huge following among partyleaders.

Party vice president for external affairs and Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, another possible contender to the 2010 elections, is expected to pull out from the race in a show of unity, said a party insider.

If this, indeed, happens, the Lakas-Kampi source said, only Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando will be left in contention against Teodoro.

Possible running mates includes Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos.

Albano, a member of the powerful Commission on Appointments, warned that if De Castro continues to “play coy,” he might end up losing current and potential allies within the administration when the selection process for the party standard bearer starts.

“By distancing himself from the party and its members, the Vice President is alienating himself and that’s not the logical thing do if he is indeed serious in getting the party’s endorsement. Many party members are upset about his lack of effort to reach out to them,” said Albano.

Albano stressed that the vice president’s strong ratings in political surveys for possible presidential bets could be an indication of “winnability” but it is not a surefire guarantee that he will bag the merged party’s nomination.

“The selection process is about to begin and his commitment and true intentions are suspect to many of us. Is he or isn’t he? That is the question only he can answer,” Albano said.

Albano said there are other presidential hopefuls “outside” the party who are eager, vocal and willing to be identified with the coalition and are very much interested to get its endorsement.