Lakas lying low next year–revilla

SEN. RAMON “Bong” Revilla Jr. said his party, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, would likely “lie low” during next year’s elections as it focuses on consolidating its remaining forces among representatives, governors and mayors.

“This is a matter of political survival. We understand that. This is also what happened during the Estrada administration. I will stand by this party till the end and I intend to strengthen it further, hopefully in time for the 2016 elections,” said Revilla. “We still have 12 governors, 28 congressmen and 120 mayors. They cannot belittle our party with these numbers.”

Revilla said Lakas was in the middle of a transformation, with its previous leader, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, staying out of the limelight as she tackles her legal problems. The former president has been detained over the past seven months in a government hospital on charges of election fraud.

“In the case of GMA, she distanced herself from the party without anybody telling her to stay away. I think it would be painful for anyone to tell her to leave her own party,” said Revilla.

Revilla said he remained on good terms with Arroyo despite having adjudged her appointee, former Chief Justice Renato Corona, guilty during the impeachment trial.

Revilla may not be as learned as some of his peers but he has sense enough to know it would be inappropriate to have himself and his wife, Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, serve in the Senate at the same time.

“For me, I don’t think it would look good to have a husband and wife together in the Senate,” he said in a radio interview. “Also, I don’t want to be closely watched every day,” joked Revilla, a movie star with a reputation as a ladies man.

Mercado-Revilla, herself an actress, is among the leading candidates for the Senate based on a survey on the 2013 elections. She emerged with a high awareness rating equal to reelectionist Senators Aquilino Pimentel III and Alan Peter Cayetano and San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito.

But Revilla said his wife would be seeking reelection as Cavite representative next year and would likely run for the Senate when his second and final term ends in 2016.