Both pro-administration and opposition parties of the Philippines Sunday announced their candidates for the coming senatorial elections in May.

House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr., who is chairman of the ruling Lakas Party, announced the pro-administration "unity ticket" that included veteran Senator Joker Arroyo, who is not related to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Local television network ABS-CBN said De Venecia showed the nomination paper that contained 11 names led by Arroyo during the inauguration of a new public market.

The others in the list include former presidential chief of staff Michael Defensor, and real estate developer Luis "Chavit" Singson, a close ally of President Arroyo.

The opposition Sunday named its candidates for the senatorial race during a gathering in San Juan, a stronghold of former President Joseph Estrada in Metro Manila .

Among the opposition candidates are Francis Escudero, who was at the forefront fight during the impeachment bid by the opposition against Arroyo, and outgoing Senator Loren Legarda, the presidential running mate of movie star Fernando Poe in 2004, a brother of incumbent Senator Pia Cayetan. He was suspended from his post for wrongly accusing First Gentleman Mike Arroyo of holding banking accounts in Europe, a relative of former President Cory Aquino and a former Navy officer who was charged with mutiny in 2003 by the military.

Senate President Manuel Villlar Jr. said he would run as independent candidate for the Senate.

Meanwhile, Cebu political leaders headed by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said Saturday they have decided to quit the Lakas Party and form their own political party, the One Cebu Party.

Garcia said Lakas Party has not been responsive or sensitive to the needs of the Cebuanos and has relegated Cebu's interests to the "back burner" in favor of other regional and local interests.

Cebu, the second city of the Philippines, hosted the 12th ASEAN Summit and 2nd East Asian Summit in January after the summits were abruptly canceled by Arroyo in December due to an alleged typhoon threat.

Source: Xinhua