MANILA -- A ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD official said Wednesday that Senator Loren Legarda is one of the administration party's options to run alongside Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro in 2010 elections.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD deputy secretary general Reginald Velasco said Legarda was chosen as one of their options because of the political party she represents -- the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).

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He said the NPC has a "working alliance" with Lakas, especially in the House of Representatives and on the local level.

"We are hoping we can replicate this coalition in the national level...Senator Legarda is considered because she and Gibo (Teodoro) were both NPC," Velasco said.

But apart from Legarda, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD is also eyeing two actors-turned-politicians and a Cabinet secretary as possible running mate of Teodoro.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the three men in the shortlist for the vice president are Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano of the NPC, and Lakas-Kampi's Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and resigned Optical Media Board (OMB) chairman Edu Manzano.

Ermita, who is also the Lakas-Kampi president, denied that the three are "last resort" in case the Teodoro-Legarda tandem does not push through, stressing that they are part of the shortlist.

"There are choices... A lot are qualified. That's what I'm saying. It's not a matter of somebody is last resort. That's basically it. Politics is personal interest. Once a person wants something, he or she must think about it well and must not be sensitive that he or she is last resort," said Ermita.

Ermita declined to say why Manzano and Durano were among those in the list, but cited that Revilla was picked as he has the experience being a former vice governor and later governor of Cavite and now a senator.

Durano, prior to being President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's tourism secretary was a congressman of Cebu, while Manzano apart from being a television host and former OMB chairman was a former vice mayor of Makati.

Manzano has been rumored to be included in the senatorial line-up of former President Joseph Estrada's, while Durano and Revilla were earlier reported to be included in the senatorial line-up of the administration.

Velasco said there were also talks of considering House Speaker Prospero Nograles for the vice presidency. "But he's (Nograles) not interested because he wants to focus on Davao."

Velasco admitted that they are not considering Senator Francis Escudero, who recently left NPC.

"He will be good candidate, but even with his old party mates, they are puzzled (with his decision). Parang solo flight na siya eh," he said.

For the party's senatorial slate, Velasco said they are also looking at Revilla, Miriam Santiago, Lito Lapid, Juan Ponce Enrile, and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Lakas-Kampi is opening four slots for possible coalition. Velasco said the administration party will announce its vice presidential candidate and senatorial slate in the party's national convention on November 19 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD has exactly one week to decide on who would be the running mate of Teodoro.

Ermita denied that the ruling party is having difficulty in choosing its tandem for the 2010 elections. Instead, he said they are just being prudent in choosing the most qualified candidate.

The official said they are not closing their doors to Legarda, adding that they are even serious with forging coalition with the NPC if the senator decides to be Teodoro's running mate.

He said the party's executive director Gabby Claudio is continuously communicating with the leadership of NPC regarding the coalition.

But members of the NPC are confident that Legarda will run for vice president under their party.

The party's spokesman Representative Rex Gatchalian (Valenzuela, 1st district) said they are still in consultation with members on their plans, including the possible tie up with the Nacionalista Party (NP).

"Anything's possible, our door is open for whatever is the best alternative for NPC...at the right place and the right time, we will choose," Gatchalian said.

Tourism Secretary Durano, late senator Blas Ople's daughter Susan "Toots" Ople, former senator Vicente Sotto III, and Representative Rodolfo "Ompong" Plaza III are also being eyed as for the NPC senatorial slate.

Lawyer Adel Tamano of NP, for his part, said a tie-up with NPC would be a "grand reunion."

NPC is a breakaway party of the NP. The other breakaway party is the Liberal Party (LP).

"If NPC were to partner with NP, that would be a great thing especially that they came from one party," Gatchalian echoed.

Tamano said his party is still talking to different people as to who will run alongside their presidential candidate Senator Manny Villar.

NP's announcement will be made in two weeks.

"Loren is one of them, Chiz is one of them...there are other people being considered," he said, adding that they already have a shortlist of choices.

For the NP senatorial slate, Tamano said aside from himself, they are looking at party spokesman Gilbert Remulla, Senator Pia Cayetano, Ilocos Representative Bongbong Marcos, former Planning secretary Ralph Recto, and detained Marine Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Querubin.

Tamano said they are also leaving slots open for possible coalitions.

Meanwhile, Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said Wednesday that there is no legal stumbling block that hinders President Arroyo if she so decide to run as vice president in the forthcoming 2010 elections.

Macalintal said Arroyo, whose term as president expires next year, can run for any position in the 2010 elections "except for her incumbent position as President."

He likewise stressed that the Chief Executive need not resign from the Presidency even after filing her COC (certificate of candidacy) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Macalintal aired his arguments on the heels of what Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo described as a clamor from voters of Pampanga's second district for President Arroyo to join the congressional race in the May 10, 2010 elections.

Macalintal said if Arroyo would not opt to run as congresswoman of her district in Pampanga, she all the more has the option to run for the second top post in the country this time.

The Comelec has given the period from November 20, 2009 until December 1, 2009 to file the respective COCs of those who are seeking elective post in next year's polls. (Justine Paredes/With Jill Beltran/JMR/PNA/Sunnex)