MANILA, Philippines—The Catholic political party Ang Kapatiran has drafted Sen. Francis Pangilinan as its possible standard-bearer in the 2010 presidential election . 

Pangilinan was officially informed about the decision in a letter more than a week ago. Eric Manalang, party president, said the group was awaiting an official response from the lawmaker. 

The nomination did not exactly come as a surprise since the senator had been in touch with Manalang even before the start of the party’s selection process. 

Manalang said a select group of Kapatiran officials sat down with Pangilinan a month ago to “update” one another on political developments at the time.  

“I know Kiko (Pangilinan’s nickname) is vying for the vice presidency, but maybe he has to look beyond the vice presidency,” Manalang told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).  

Manalang acknowledged that Pangilinan, being a veteran lawmaker, was not insulated from the political system which is smeared by traditional politics.  

“But if I were to personally say so, Kiko is at the bottom of the ‘trapo’ (traditional politics) pole,” he said.  Manalang cited Pangilinan’s “independence,” particularly during the 2007 elections when he turned down offers to run with both the administration and opposition parties.

“That showed real independence,” he said.  

But should Pangilinan accept the nomination, he said the senator would have to leave the Liberal Party and officially become a member of Kapatiran.  

Read the article in Inquirer.net