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MANILA: The race for the presidential election in the Philippines is heating up.
With only two days to go before candidates file their certificates of candidacies, billionaire lawmaker Senator Manuel Villar announced on Tuesday his running mate for the 2010 election.
Villar picked former television broadcaster Senator Loren Legarda.
The announcement came exactly a year after Villar was ousted as Senate President by his fellow senators, due to a controversial road extension project.
Ironically, his chosen running mate, Legarda, was one of those who supported the senate investigation into the alleged over-priced road project.
"It is not based on political expediency, or just assuming a position of power, for the sake of power itself," said Legarda.
"Secretary Clinton and President Obama during the primaries had very scathing words for each other, and now, she is the most effective secretary of state supporting his administration," he added.
Latest opinion polls show that both Villar and Legarda are trailing behind the tandem of Senators Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Roxas II - both descendants of former Philippine presidents.
But with the newly formed alliance, both candidates said they believe Filipinos will realize they are the best team that will lead the country out of poverty.
For political analysts, however, Tuesday's announcement only proves that in politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies - only permanent interests.
- CNA/sc
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