Defensor floats Imelda's name on his "Unity Ticket"

to see the public's reaction. Link.

More from the Inquirer, where it says Mike Defensor is also targetting Imelda's children: Defensor starts courting votes in Marcos country

Presidential Chief of staff Michael Defensor, a former leftist activist, said he welcomes the possibility of the entry of the children of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos in a unity ticket under the administration of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

Defensor said reconciling with Edsa 1, 2 and 3 forces is one of the Arroyo administration’s 10-point agenda after she won in the 2004 presidential elections.

He started espousing a unity slate for the administration after declaring his intention to run for senator this year, a move that observers noted would strengthen his bid.

“I see no problem with accommodating the Marcos children in the unity ticket. I know that [the Marcos children] are open about this,” Defensor said during his visit here on Thursday...

Defensor said it was former First Lady Imelda Marcos who advised him to “follow the path of reconciliation” when they met in one occasion.

Hmmm... interesting.

But why is it that whenever Mike Defensor I hear one of Mike defensor's proposals/ideas, ito ang unang pumapasok sa isipan ko?

Mike knows imelda will never be allowed to join arroyo's so called "unity slate." He's just giving Imelda's supporters false hope. But i guess it doesn't hurt to pander and court the Imelda vote. Besides, once Arroyo returns from her trip, she'll reprise her role as "bad cop" to mike D's "good cop", and some of Defensor's crazy ideas will be shelved.

MORE: Oliver Lozano wants to join the "Unity Ticket" too

Who says there are no takers for an administration opposition unity ticket being broached by a key Palace official?

So far, there is one and it is the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, political party of the late President Ferdinand Marcos. It is negotiating for an alliance with the ruling Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats, according to lawyer Oliver Lozano, a KBL stalwart.

Lozano offered to run as KBL representative in the unity ticket that was suggested by presidential chief-of-staff Michael Defensor.

In a letter to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Lozano said “there will be no strings attached,” to the Lakas-KBL coalition.

“The unity ticket will be an entry point to the use of the Marcos wealth to fund the infrastructures and other public welfare projects of the government,” he said.

Lozano, better known as a personal lawyer of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos, has been a perennial candidate in senatorial elections but has not won any of them.

His plan to run as a “guest candidate” of the administration is bound to raise quizzical eyebrows because he has earned a name for himself as a critic of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In fact, Lozano twice filed an impeachment complaint against the President—the first in 2004 and the second in 2005. Both impeachment complaints—the first was combined with those lodged by opposition congressmen—were dismissed by the House of Representatives.

UPDATE: If Arroyo wins, will Imelda and Bongbong finally get their wish?

Related:

- The Marcos Restoration
- PCIJ: Did Marcos wealth and taxpayers bankroll GMA campaign?