-- Rommel C. Lontayao, Cris G. Odronia And Francis Earl A. Cueto

Adel Tamano on Thursday resigned as spokesman of the United Opposition (UNO) and joined the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., one of the leading aspirants for president in the 2010 elections.

Tamano earlier confirmed that he would run for the Senate also in 2010, but in statement released by Villar on Thursday, the former opposition spokesman said, “I’m not entering Nacionalista Party with the expectation that I will be one of its senatorial candidates. If they believe that I have what it takes to be a good candidate, I will let them choose.”

He explained, “My family has deep roots in the Nacionalista Party and part of what I am doing is to honor my late father and continue his work as a Nacionalista.”

Tamano is the eighth son of the late Sen. Mamintal Tamano and civic leader Hadja Putri Zorayda Abbas Tamano. He is also president of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (University of the City of Manila) and the longtime lawyer of the controversial Dr. Vicky Belo, whose lover, Dr. Hayden Kho, is embroiled in a sex-video scandal.

Tamano, who hails from Lanao del Sur, was accompanied by his wife, lawyer Rowena Kapunan, and her parents, former Supreme Court Justice Santiago Kapunan and Angie.

The erstwhile UNO spokesman earned his economics and law degrees from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1992 and 1996, respectively. Then he took up Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines, and later became the first Filipino Muslim to graduate from the Harvard Law School.

Villar for president

“I can speak for myself as Adel Tamano now. I am no longer a spokesman for somebody,” said the 38-year-old lawyer, who now backs Villar’s presidential bid.

He added that Villar has a big chance in being elected as the country’s next leader next year.

“Our biggest problem in the country is poverty, and it will take someone who has really experienced poverty to redeem us out of it. That is why I choose him,” Tamano said in the statement released by Villar’s camp.

The Nacionalista Party, founded in 1907, has produced six presidents—Manuel Quezon, Sergio Osmeña, Ramon Magsaysay, Jose Laurel, Carlos Garcia and Ferdinand Marcos.

Opposition’s reactions

Tamano also said he had informed the opposition leaders – former President Joseph Estrada and UNO President and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay—of his decision to resign and join Villar’s party. And they reportedly accepted Tamano’s resignation.

Binay congratulated Tamano also on Thursday, saying their parting was cordial. “I just wish him all the luck in his political plans.”

He added that former Sen. Ernesto Maceda would be UNO’s new spokesman.

Mayor JV Ejercito of San Juan City (Metro Manila) also wished Tamano good luck but gave him a parting shot. “Sana lang napunta siya sa tunay na oposisyon at hindi sa mga nagpapanggap lamang [I wish he had joined the real opposition party, not the one that is just pretending to be one].”

Ejercito is also a director of the United Opposition and son of Estrada, who has repeatedly said he would again run for president if the opposition fails to unite behind a single candidate.

Event at Laurel house

Also sworn in with Tamano was businessman Arsenic Laurel of the illustrious Laurel clan. He will run for representative of the Third District of Batangas, a statement said.

The event took place at the Nacionalista headquarters, the historic Laurel House on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

Also with Villar, Tamano and Laurel on Thursday were Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and wife, Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano; Sen. Villar’s wife, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar; Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara; Caloocan Rep. Oscar “Oca” Malapitan; Laguna Rep. Justin “Timmy” Chipeco; Cavite Rep. Crispin “Boying” Remulla; Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rolando “Klarex” Uy; Quezon City Rep. Vincent “Bingbong’ Crisologo; Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos “Caloy” Padilla; former Negros Occidental Rep. Jerry Paras; former Pampanga Rep. Rimpy Bondoc; former Compostela Valley Rep. Roger Sarmiento; former Manila Representatives Joey Hizon and Rudy Tuazon; and former Casiguran Mayor Edwin Hamor.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/june/05/yehey/top_stories/20090605top2.html