Batangas Governor Vilma Santos has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential bet by the administration party Lakas-CMD-Kampi in its quest to come up with a formidable presidential tandem with mass appeal by September 16, the Manila Bulletin learned Sunday.

As this developed, party sources said 11 more governors were poised to join the 49 provincial governors who earlier endorsed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro’s presidential bid should the Lakas-CMD-Kampi national executive committee nominate him this Wednesday.

The sources, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to make the announcements, said the idea of drafting the popular actress-turned-politician as a vice presidential bet emerged in recent talks among party think tanks.

“The name of Vilma cropped up in recent party talks, especially when the issue of how the administration ticket will be able to muster considerable audiences during the nationwide campaign was tackled,” one of the sources said.

Santos, known as the “Star of All Seasons” in the Philippine movie industry, has the “magnetic charm to attract masses” and substantial exposure in governance as an elected mayor and governor of a major province, the sources said.

They said the name of Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was also mentioned in the same talks as another potential nominee for vice president, but Santos appeared to be “more favored.”

“Governor Santos was more favored in the talks because of her developed eloquence in politics,” another source pointed out.

The sources said they did not mean to undermine the qualifications and capabilities of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who has long announced his intention to run for vice president under the administration party.

“Secretary Puno certainly possesses leadership qualities that ordinary candidates lack, but given the kind of political exercises in the country where popularity counts most, any party has to be more explorative,” one of the sources said.

Interviewed mostly over the phone, the sources also said 11 more governors have expressed intention to back the initiative of their 49 colleagues who endorsed Teodoro’s presidential bid during the recent general assembly of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LLP).

The 11 governors, they said, were absent in the LLP meeting and are awaiting President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Lakas-CMD-Kampi party chairperson, to anoint Teodoro before they officially manifest their support.

The sources hinted that the party leadership would be “very willing” to draft Chairman Bayani Fernando, another administration presidential aspirant, and Puno in the senatorial slate where they have “better chances” of winning.

As to Vice President Noli de Castro, who is still being wooed for the party top slot, the sources asserted that the time “ran out” on him to become a party member to qualify for nomination.