Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. yesterday said different parties and groups within the minority camp should start crafting a formula to unite and support a common presidential candidate in the 2010 elections, a press release from his office said.

Unless they join forces and rally behind a single standard bearer, it will be difficult for the minority to recapture the presidency and return to power, he added.

Pimentel said the strength of the minority can be seen in its many aspirants for the presidency.  They include Senators Manuel Villar, Loren Legarda, Mar Roxas, Panfilo Lacson and Francis Escudero, and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

Former President Joseph Estrada said he may be compelled to run if the presidential contenders in the minority groups will not agree on who among themselves should be the common standard bearer, the press release said.

Pimentel said the minority should consider the possibility of calling a national convention to select its common ticket to include the presidential, vice presidential and senatorial slots.

He said that the Nacionalista Party, Liberal Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition, Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan and other groups could send delegates to the convention on the basis of proportional representation, the press release added.*

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