As well as being a leading figure in Lakas, Mrs Arroyo is vice-president of the Philippines.

ECONOMIST: The Philippines

Ramos's Lakas-NUCD party has more cabinet posts (five) than Estrada's own LaMMP coalition with his defeated running-mate Senator Edgardo Angara (four).

CNN: TIME TO TAKE A BOW

He said spin doctors once employed by Ramos's Lakas-NUCD party have been leaking allegations of various scams and other anomalies to the newspapers.

CNN: GOING MAN TO MAN

The three have linked up with the main opposition party, Lakas-NUCD-UMDP.

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Juan Flavier of the ruling Lakas party.

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Mr Teodoro's main hope is that Mrs Arroyo's governing LAKAS party remains the most efficient machine in the country, containing a legion of local officials who still enjoy the president's patronage and could use their clout to get voters out for him in their districts.

ECONOMIST: Anyone but Arroyo