The entry of popular television host Edu Manzano into the political arena as the vice presidential bet of administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD has spiced up the electoral race, rival political party leaders said Friday.

Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr., the only prominent presidential candidate who has yet to announce his running mate, said Manzano’s partnership with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is a good match.

“I suppose magiging exciting ang labanan (The race will become more exciting),” the senator said on the sidelines of the Kapisanan ng ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas top level management conference in Tagaytay City.

However, Villar maintained that his still unnamed candidate–rumored to be Senator Loren Legarda–is better. “Nasa bayan na kung sino ang magugustuhan nilang ihalal (The public will decide who they want to elect),” he said.

Senator Legarda also wished Manzano well.

Meanwhile, Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, the Liberal Party (LP) vice presidential bet, said Manzano is a worthy opponent. “I trust that Filipinos will choose their candidates based on a strong platform for real change,” Roxas said.

With the announcement of Teodoro’s running mate, the LP is assuming that Villar and Legarda will team up for the 2010 polls, said LP spokesperson Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III.

“The tandem of Noynoy [Aquino] and Mar [Roxas] will have to work hard to maintain the trust of the people all the way to election day,” Tañada said in in a text message.

Aquino and Roxas have been taking the top spots in recent public preference surveys.

Earlier in the day, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno–who previously declared his vice presidential ambition, only to later withdraw from the race –announced that Manzano will be Teodoro’s running mate. [See: Edu Manzano chosen as Gibo's VP]

Manzano is the former chairman of the Optical Media Board chairman and has served as vice mayor of Makati City.

Puno, whom Manzano said he considers a “mentor,” paved the way for the formation of the Teodoro-Manzano tandem.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita had earlier said other personalities that were considered to become Teodoro’s running mate were Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, and Legarda. – Johanna Camille Sisante and Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV