PHILIPPINES: FORMER DEFENCE SECRETARY TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT

Описание: (16 Dec 1997) English/Nat

The Philippines' former Defence Secretary Renato de Villa announced on Monday he'll be breaking away from the ruling Lakas-NUCD party to pursue a bid for the presidency.

Last week de Villa lost the battle for the party's endorsement to his close rival House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

De Villa, declaring a rebellion against corrupt politics, said he will attempt to win the backing of another party for next years presidential campaign.

Cheers and applause greeted Renato de Villa as he arrived at the Club Filipino in Manila on Monday.

He was there to announce that despite failing to get the endorsement of the ruling Lakas-NUCD party, he would still be campaigning for the Philippines presidency.

De Villa who struggled to win the support of the party for his presidential bid, said that he has broken away from Lakas-NUCD and has formed a coalition with the tough-talking Mayor of Manila, Alfredo Lim.

Last week the country's current president, Fidel Ramos, announced his endorsement of de Villa's closest rival, House Speaker Jose de Venecia, ending months of intense speculation.

De Villa's decision to leave was a blow to the ruling Lakas-NUCD party, whose powerful
nationwide political machine stands to be weakened by the split.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Today, today, I clearly state my refusal to cooperate and stand on the same platform with party leaders whose ways I cannot anymore stomach."
SUPER CAPTION: Renato de Villa, former Defence Secretary and Presidential Aspirant

Both De Villa and de Venecia had fought hard for the endorsement, with each camp accusing the other of bribing delegates to a party convention last month in a bid to secure support.

Ramos' endorsement of de Venecia, regarded as a traditional politician accustomed to wheeling and dealing, surprised many.

The president had been expected to choose De Villa, a close friend who resigned his Cabinet post to pursue the presidency.

But failing that, de Villa vowed to fight dirty politics.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I declare a rebellion against the traditional politics of corrupt patronage. And the idea that people and their principles can be bought."
SUPER CAPTION: Renato de Villa, former Defence Secretary and Presidential Aspirant

De Villa's career closely resembles that of Ramos.

Six years ago, Ramos also split from a dominant political party after failing to win its endorsement and formed his own party, Lakas, which later merged with the National Union of Christian Democrats.

Ramos, however, got the endorsement of then President Corazon Aquino, which is widely credited for his slim election victory in 1992.

De Villa announced he and Lim will decide soon who would run for president and who for vice president.

They are trying to join with other political parties to compensate for their lack of a solid political base.

At least 15 politicians from various parties have indicated an interest in succeeding Ramos in the May 11 election.

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...