Immigration chief nixes offer to become admin Senate bet

Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan was considered as one of the ruling party's 12 senatorial candidates for the 2010 elections but has declined the offer. In a radio interview Monday, Libanan said he was approached and offered the senatorial slot, but said he begged off because he had much work in his present post. "May kumausap sa akin, tumakbong senador sa administrasyon. Sinagot ko [na] marami pa rin kaming dapat gawin sa BI (Someone approached me and asked me to run for senator under the administration ticket. I told the person I still had much work to do at the BI)," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. He did not name the "emissary" who approached him to offer the senatorial slot. Besides, he said that with his present workload, running for senator never crossed his mind, at least for the 2010 polls. "Kaya di pa pumapasok sa aking isipan na tumakbong senador (It has never crossed my mind to run for senator)," he said. At present, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD is still scrambling to find a vice presidential bet for Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who is most likely to be the administration standard bearer in the 2010 polls. [See: Malacañang still looking for vice presidential bet in 2010] Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno was originally groomed to be Teodoro's running mate, but has reconsidered his plans to seek the second highest elective post next year due to pending projects in his department. [See: DILG chief Puno gives up VP ambitions] At the same time, the ruling party is working to complete a 12-member senatorial slate that will run in the 2010 elections. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo named Libanan immigration commissioner in April 2007. Libanan was a member of the House of Representatives representing Eastern Samar at the time. - GMANews.TV