Allies defecting as Manila's Arroyo endorses successor

At the gathering of the country's largest political party, Lakas-Kampi (Strength-Ally), Arroyo said she remained confident former defence secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro would win the presidency on the strength of the dominant party.

Lakas-Kampi has controlled about 70-75 percent of all national and local government elective positions for the last 15 years, a majority that helped Arroyo survive four impeachment motions in Congress from 2005.

But, she acknowledged that there was a “big and arduous task” ahead due to Teodoro's poor ratings in opinion polls. Teodoro got only 2 percent support based on the latest Pulse Asia survey in October.

“The easiest way to campaign is to criticise,” Teodoro told partymen after he was formally nominated as Lakas-Kampi's standard--bearer, referring to the good showing of opposition candidates.

“Excellence will be the key to our winning our struggle for economic and social liberties.”

At a sports stadium across the city, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino of the opposition Liberal Party was swearing in two mayors from the administration party who defected to his side.

About 800 local officials from a province on the southern island of Mindanao have also left Lakas-Kampi and joined Aquino's Liberal Party. A former cabinet member and a popular governor had earlier defected to the Liberals.

Pro-administration officials from large provinces on the main island of Luzon, such as Cavite and Camarines Sur, also abandoned Arroyo's party for another opposition party, the Nacionalista of billionaire Senator Manuel Villar. “We remain the dominant party,” Raymundo Roquero, Lakas-Kampi deputy secretary-general told reporters, adding only about 15 percent of partymates had left.

Analysts said the administration party remained formidable due to its vast political network and huge resources. They said the elections are still wide open and no clear favorite has emerged despite surveys showing Aquino in the lead, followed by Villar.

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