Politicians considered as pillars of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) are reportedly working to dislodge two of the first four names espoused by President Aquino as his personal preferences to become senators to guarantee senatorial slots for two-second generation political namesakes in next year’s mid-term elections.
Highly placed sources belonging to the LP-Balay faction, accused senior partymates from the other side, apparently referring to LP-Samar group, of working over time on the planning and implementation of internal maneuvers that would see Technical Education and Skills Development Administration Chief Joel Villanueva and Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon removed from the LP senatorial slate for next year’s mid-term elections.
Aside from the two, Aquino also earlier had named Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros in the LP senatorial slate.
Biazon and Hontiveros were both defeated senatorial candidates of LP in the 2010 elections.
The LP earlier had said it was seriously considering at least eight persons for its 12-member senatorial slate.
The other four possible candidates are  President Aquino’s cousin Bam Aquino, former Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Jamby Madrigal and Deputy House Speaker Erin Tañada.
The source said the move would make it easier for the President to squeeze in his cousin who has personally announced his desire to run for senator under Aquino’s LP line-up.
Aquino allies Senators Ralph Recto and Francis Pangilinan said the 35-year-old Bam Aquino would be a great asset to the Senate should he win a seat in the 2013 mid-term elections.
Aside from Bam Aquino, the Tribune source hinted at pressures coming from two LP stalwarts working in Malacañang to allow Magsaysay into the administration’s senatorial slate.
The Tribune source also claimed that somebody from the Palace is already in the midst of convincing Villanueva and Biazon to remain in their appointive posts as Tesda director general and Customs commissioner, respectively.
It was also learned that the Palace errand boys have already successfully subdued Biazon’s senatorial ambition, but seemed to be having a hard time making Villanueva take a step back from his political agenda which is to become a senator by June 2013.