Senatorial bet is strongest backer of rice smuggler in Cebu?

A senatorial bet, now trailing four or five spots behind top billers Alan Peter Cayetano and Loren Legarda, is purportedly the one who backs the activities of a certain "A.O.", a political financier who is also involved in the 1.2 billion peso rice smuggling operation which was busted in Cebu just recently by Bureau of Customs men.

"A.O." reportedly brags about his strong connections with this senatoriable, who is also his constant drinking buddy.

I don't believe some suggestions that AO has used or is using his strong personal links with this senator, but the buzz is, many people are afraid of their necks because of the perception that AO do exert some influence over the senator who happens to get financial support from AO.

The Center is mocking Senator Loren Legarda

Ed Malay, a publicist (meaning PUBLIC RELATIONS MAN) should stop sending media results of his alleged "surveys". The Issues and Advocacy Center or just dubbed "The Center" is making a big mockery out of the research profession.

He just issued a survey result showing that Nacionalista party bet for Vice president Loren Legarda has already whittled down Senator Mar Roxas' lead to just four points. Roxas is reportedly at 32% while Legarda stands at 28%.

Malay did not give any explanation whatsoever. Malay natin what kind of survey tools were used or the margins of error or even the methodology used.

Basta, Malay wants us to believe that Loren is making a big headway against Roxas, an obvious PR stunt.

Unknown to Malay, he is hurting the chances of his candidate, who happens to be Ms. Legarda because he is trying to manipulate the minds of the public and accept the possibility that Legarda is gaining big points against Roxas.

Legarda does not deserve such a treatment from Ed Malay. Legarda will lead Roxas eventually but not this way. This is Ed Malay's style, that of doing a "hinog sa pilit" kind of thing.

Fact is, with Malay's surveys, the people are getting a very different reading on Loren. People are saying that Malay's outfit is the "pakawala" of the "tabako" trying very hard to prop up Legarda's chances.

Ed, you are hurting Loren instead of helping her. Why not stop these ridiculous surveys since you are not really credible. You have zero credibility in this department. Just continue your press release style since you thrive in that.

Exclusive: Loren Legarda to announce her candidacy by July

Last July 2008, Pulse Asia released a survey showing that a Loren Legarda-Chiz Escudero tandem would probably get 40% of Filipino votes. While an Escudero-Legarda tandem would just get 20% of the votes.

The question---how about an Estrada-Legarda tandem or a Legarda-Estrada tandem?

This and more, you'll find out in this frank encounter with Senator Loren Legarda in Arlyn dela Cruz's lunch fete at the Manila Polo Club today.

According to Legarda, she's consulting with her supporters, leaders and her family on the best possible option for her come 2010.

She says that she needs time to discern and would probably announce what post she'll run in July, 2009. She has'nt picked her running mate yet since the situation in politics right now is "fluid".

In this interview we had with her today, Loren Legarda answered some of the questions about her political plans come 2010. Some of the highlights include:

1. Loren Legarda being invited by former president Joseph Estrada to go with him on his sorties to the provinces. Legarda will go with Erap in his Bicol trips.

2. Loren answers gender preferences---what she thinks about "prevailing" perception about another woman president in 2010.

3. Loren answers questions about her possible teamup with Chiz Escudero and the possibility of snatching 40% of the votes should they decide to run under the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC). But, as Loren says, the situation is still very fluid, meaning, we may yet find her either staying with NPC or team up with another political party. She just did that in 2004, when she teamed up with Opposition standard bearer Fernando Poe Jr. In that elections, she lost to former senator Noli de Castro for the vice presidential post.

Legarda also reveals the intention of various groups to unite under one opposition movement in 2010.

Let's listen in....

Part One: The Arlyn dela Cruz kidnapping

Seven years ago, a young journalist by the name of Arlyn de la Cruz was kidnapped by rogue elements of the military in the hinderlands of Jolo, Sulu. Arlyn was there to cover a story. She was snatched by some para-military men, taken into custody, interrogated and made a prisoner for so many days. Through the intercession of then Senator Loren Legarda, Arlyn was released by her captors.

Yet, what has not been told is how Arlyn de la Cruz (now a mother of two young kids) managed to survive that ordeal. Who helped Legarda and Arlyn? Who initiated the negotiations? Was there ransom paid? These and more unanswered questions were fortunately taken up in today's commemoration of Arlyn's ordeal many years ago.

I was fortunate to be part of this interview held at the Manila Polo Club today. Here is the first part of the interview. I'll be releasing these interviews in a series.

IN this movie, Loren Legarda narrates the circumstances behind the kidnapping and narrates, in brief, how she managed to release Arlyn from her captors.

By the way, there was a Colonel in the military who took a very active part in the release of Arlyn. For security purposes, the name of this Colonel will not be revealed here. (For further info, you can check this on YouTube also. I've recently opened a YouTube channel account. Starting today, I'll be working on uploading videos on YouTube)

** Who is Arlyn dela Cruz? Arlyn dela Cruz is a noted journalist in the Philippines. If my memory serves me right, she started as a reporter over at ABC Channel 5 before being hired by ABS-CBN Channel 2. Right now, she writes for the Philippine Daily Inquirer as a correspondent and anchors the news and public affairs shows over at NET 25. She is considered an expert in Mindanao affairs, having covered the region since the 1990's.