MANILA, Philippines ? Noontime TV game show host Willie Revillame is not among those being considered as viable running mates of Senator Manuel Villar Jr., the standard-bearer of the Nationalista Party, according to NP spokespersons.

Representative Gilbert Remulla and lawyer Adel Tamano flatly rejected this tandem, on Tuesday, but did not explain why.

At a press conference in the Senate, Tamano said this had not been talked about by partymates.

Tamano even joked that the "Wowowee" host, who resumed hosting the noontime show on Monday after a month-long absence, would only ?jog? or run in a marathon, not in either the vice presidential or senatorial race.

Remulla, in an interview on GMA-7?s ?Unang Hirit? morning show, said that Villar had not asked Revillame to serve as his running mate.

?Not once did the party discuss the matter. So to all those spreading those rumors, there is no truth to that," said Remulla.

Interviewed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Remulla said as much, saying that Revillame might be joking when he said in a recent interview in Davao City that he would be open to running for a national post either as vice president or senator.

?This is not even mentioned in our discussions. I think before anything (is decided), Senator Villar will consult us first,? said Remulla.

?As far as I know, Willie has not even been talked about (things which are in) any way connected to politics, except for his support for the Villar candidacy.

Remulla, however, stressed that Revillame was an ?asset.?

?He is a good ally, a good friend to have during a campaign. It?s better to keep him on your side, especially in a presidential campaign,? said Remulla.

So far, the NP has Senator Pia Cayetano, Representative Teofisto Guingona III and Tamano as senatorial candidates but it is holding talks with Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Querubin, Grace Poe and Satur Ocampo of Bayan Muna.

Cayetano is also being groomed to become Villar?s running mate, but talks are rife that Senate president pro-tempore Jose ?Jinggoy? Estrada will be handpicked by Villar should his father, former president Joseph Estrada, bows out of the 2010 presidential race.

Villar himself hinted in an interview last month that the TV host deserved to seek a senatorial candidacy.

?Willie is very qualified (to run for senator). I don?t see any problem with Willie. That?s the one thing that he should think about," said Villar.

Revillame went on a voluntary leave of absence last month amid pressures coming from the giant TV network ABS-CBN and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, which said that Revillame violated the broadcast code of ethics.

This stemmed from Revillame?s demand on August 3 that the live-feed inset of President Corazon Aquino?s funeral cortege be removed while the ?Wowowee" show was on the air.

The TV network was then showing Aquino?s remains being transferred from the La Salle Greenhills gymnasium in San Juan to the Manila Cathedral at Intramuros, Manila.