Edu Manzano quits post. .

Edu Manzano

Optical Media Board (OMB) Chairman Edu Manzano has resigned from his post to focus on his advocacy against child pornography and eventually prepare for his possible re-entry to politics come 2010 elections.

Deputy presidential spokespersons Lorelei Fajardo and Anthony Golez made the announcement Thursday.

Fajardo said Manzano, whose term initially expired last March 5, 2007, have been acting as OMB head on a hold over capacity until his replacement is named.

She said Manzano submitted his resignation letter to the office of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita Thursday morning, but she is not yet sure if the President has already accepted it.

Golez said Malacanang is already “deliberating on his replacement.”

“My only knowledge about Mr. Manzano’s letter is he must attend to personal tasks that include among others his campaign against child pornography and he is also considering other avenues of public service, so that is the main reason why he is resigning,” he added.

Manzano, who currently hosts a game show program and a known product endorser, was into acting before he entered politics and served as vice mayor of Makati City in 1998. He returned to the entertainment industry after his term ended.

Reports said he is considering running for senator in 2010.

Manzano’s resignation was made about a week after Socio-Planning secretary Ralph Recto resigned from the administration to prepare for his plans to run for senator in 2010.

Another Cabinet member who is planning to run in 2010 is Golez who is eyeing a congressional seat in Bacolod.

“These are plans like what (Budget) Secretary (Rolando) Andaya said, all these things are personal plans, hopefully if God willing to push through, will push through,” Golez said.

He said he already took his oath as member of the Nationalist People Coalition (NPC).

Asked why he joined NPC instead of the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats, Golez said his party is still a member of the administration coalition and there are also several Cabinet members who are currently affiliated with the party like Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and Education Secretary Jesli Lapus.

Andaya, for his part, said he is still thinking if he would run for congressman of Camarines Sur, a post he held before joining the Arroyo Cabinet and is currently occupied by presidential son Representative Diosdado Ignacio Jose Maria Arroyo.

He denied an “agreement” was made between him and Representative Arroyo, but teased that he is considering joining the entertainment industry if he is given a “love story” for a film instead of a horror film.

Andaya refused to comment on reports that the proposal in the Senate to split Camarines Sur to create another congressional district for him, stressing it is a Senate matter that is up for the senators to decide.