MANILA -  Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita on Thursday said that Vice President Noli de Castro is still part of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party's list of possible bets for the 2010 presidential elections, dispelling an earlier report. (Read: 'Noli no longer in Lakas-Kampi radar screen')

In a live interview on TV Patrol World, Ermita said that in an interview over radio dzRH, he "never said" that the vice president is out of the running for the party's bet.

"In my interview this morning (Thursday morning) kay Joe Taruc (of dzRH)... I never said that the Vice President is out of the running," Ermita said.

"Alam mo the (vice) president has his own mind to make a decision to run for the presidency and with what party. I merely said that we will have an executive committee meeting. Siyempre I could only talk of the two members of our party whom I know are aspiring within our party. Ayokong mangahas o pangunahan kung ano ang plano ni Vice Pesident kasi in the first place, hindi ko naman nakakausap si bise presidente," Ermita said.

He said that they are only talking about the members of the Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

"So that is what I meant when I said na ang aming pag-uusapan in all probability ay yung mga members ng aming party, pero wala ako sinabi na the Vice President is out of the running because I will say, sino ba naman akong magsasalita on behalf of the vice-president na, uulitin ko, na hindi ko naman nakakausap si vice-president?" he said.

"I wish the vice-president will understand. I hope there is no misunderstanding. I am not in the position to say whether he is out of the running or not because he by himself can make a decision on his own," Ermita added.

He also said that they are not closing the door on De Castro.

He also added that President Arroyo will have a "heavy" influence on the outcome of the party's decision.

"In the final analysis, si presidente ay mabigat ang kanyang impluwensya sa partido, dahil siya nga ang chairman ng partido. Kaya kung anuman ang mga desisyon niyan, hindi maaaring hindi imumungkahi kay Pangulong Arroyo," he added.