Noynoy-Mar to formally announce tandem on Monday

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

MANILA – The formal announcement for the tandem of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II for president and vice president in the 2010 national elections is set to be made Monday.

A Liberal Party (LP) official on Sunday confirmed that Roxas has accepted Aquino’s invitation to run as his vice-president.

In an interview on ANC’s “Dateline Philippines,” LP spokesperson and Quezon 4th district Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III said Roxas and Aquino will make the formal announcement on Monday, Sept. 21. A media advisory has been sent by Roxas’s office for a press conference 11 a.m. Monday at Club Filipino.

The formal announcement will reportedly be made on the day when Muslims commemorate the Eid’l Fitr or the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Monday also marks the commemoration of the 37th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law.

Meanwhile, the LP official has confirmed several of its senatorial candidates for the 2010 elections: former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Muntinlupa Rep. Rozzano Rufino “Ruffy” Biazon, former Rep. Nereus Acosta and Akbayan Rep. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel.

Tañada added that talks are ongoing with other parties for the eight remaining slots in its senatorial slate.

“We don’t want [the] LP slate to be dominated by LP,” he told ANC, adding that the party aims to create a “people’s slate.”

Noynoy is the son of the late former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino and the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr.

Roxas, meantime, is the grandson of former President Manuel Roxas and son of the late Sen. Gerardo “Gerry” Roxas.

Noynoy announced his presidential bid last Sept. 9

Mar earlier withdrew from the 2010 presidential race last Sept. 1. He also made known his support for Noynoy’s bid.

Both senators made their announcements at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City

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Escudero wins UP mock poll; Villar places 2nd

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

MANILA - Sen. Francis Escudero on Thursday topped a mock poll conducted by students from the University of the Philippines Diliman campus.

Dubbed the "Boto ng Iskolar ng Bayan", the campus-wide mock election was conducted by the Alpha Sigma fraternity last September 8 to 15. A total of 3,156 from 15 colleges in UP Diliman participated in the election.

Escudero, who received his law degree at the UP College of Law, got 690 or 21 percent of the total votes. He gained the most votes in all except in the UP College of Business Administration where Sen. Manuel Villar graduated. Villar placed second in the mock poll with 365 or 11.6 percent of the votes.

Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III placed third in the mock poll with 278 or 8.8 percent of the votes.

The complete results of the UP mock elections is as follows:

1. Sen Francis Escudero - 690 or 21.9%

2. Sen. Manny Villar - 365 or 11.6%

3. Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III - 278 or 8.8%

4. Sen. Jamby Madrigal - 258 or 8.2%

5. Sen. Manuel Roxas - 251 or 8%

6. Sen. Loren Legarda - 237 or 7.9%

7. MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando - 226 or 7.2%

8. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay - 162 or 5.1%

9. Sen. Richard Gordon - 151 or 4.8%

10. Vice President Noli De Castro - 107 or 3.4%

11. Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio - 53 or 1.7%

12. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro - 52 or 1.6%

13. Former president Joseph Estrada - 35 or 1.1%

14. Bro. Eddie Villanueva - 21 or .07%

15. Sen. Panfilo Lacson - 3 or .09%

16. Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV - 1 or .03%

A total of 267 students or 8.5 percent of the students abstained from the mock election.

Officials of the Alpha Sigma fraternity said the mock poll is the first to be conducted by the fraternity ahead of the 2010 elections.

Fraternity spokesman Simon Salinas said the mock poll is meant to spread awareness of the importance of every vote during the country's electoral exercise.

Project head Marc Aguimatang said Escudero could win big among youth voters next year because of his age and general advocacies for the youth.

Alpha Sigma head Jayson Santiago, however, said the other candidates could also appeal to youth voters since the national election is still eight months away.

He said candidates who sincerely want to engage the youth should prioritize social issues such as quality and free education, accountability and transparency in governance, agrarian reform and reproductive health.

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Villar threatened by Noynoy candidacy

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

MANILA - Senator and presidential wannabe Manuel Villar on Tuesday admitted that he is threatened by the rising popularity of Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III after the latter declared his intention to run for president in 2010.

Asked if he feels threatened by Noynoy, Villar acknowledged: "Siyempre, si Noynoy ang malakas ngayon (Of course, because Noynoy is strong now)."

He added, however, that Noynoy's popularity may be shortlived since the other presidential candidates are equally strong. He said he himself was trailing in the surveys until recently.

Villar criticized Aquino while telling his supporters that he would not back down from his presidential bid.

"Ang tunay na demokrasya ay makakamit kung pagbibigyan ng tao na maging presidente ang isang anak ng mahirap at hindi kailangan maging anak ng presidente (True democracy can be achieved if men will allow a son of poor parents, not just a son of president, to become president)," he said in a political rally in Cavite.

He later said he was not criticizing Aquino since the incumbent President Arroyo is also the daughter of a former president, Diosdado Macapagal. Aquino is the son of former president and freedom icon Corazon Aquino.

Villar added that there was nothing inherently wrong with being the son or daughter of a former president.

Villar has centered his campaign on a pro-poor platform, anchored on the slogan "Ang taong galing sa hirap, tumutulong sa mahihirap (A person who comes from poverty helps the poor)."

Aquino, on the other hand, has been thrust into the national limelight after the death of his mother last August 1. He declared his candidacy earlier this month after his partymate, Liberal Party president Mar Roxas, backed out of the race and supported his bid.

Villar, meanwhile, said he has yet to choose a running mate for the 2010 polls. He said he would make a final decision once he files his candidacy in November.

He also told former president Joseph Estrada to "relax" after the latter was linked to smuggling, strong-arm and illegal numbers rackets during his protracted term as president. He said Estrada's accuser, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, should present evidence to back his claims.

Lacson had earlier accused Villar of profiting from a double-insertion for the C-5 road project.

Magdalo members back Villar

Meanwhile, some 300 members of the Partido Magdalo on Tuesday pledged their support for Villar's Nacionalista Party. Former Cavite vice-governor Jonvic Remulla led 18 out of 23 Cavite mayors in pledging their support for Villar, adding that they would deliver 1.5 million votes for the senator's 2010 presidential bid.

Among those who pledged their support for Villar was Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla, a former spokesman of Estrada's Partido ng Masang Pilipino. In an interview, Remulla said Estrada gave his blessings when he told the forrmer president that he would join the Nacionalista Party.

He said he believes Villar would be the best candidate to support since Estrada "is not accepted by the rich" while Aquino is being supported by civil society, which he termed as a divisive force. "It's about time we find a middle ground," he said.

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Noynoy tops SWS survey in vote-rich Luzon areas

Source: abs-cbnnews.com

MANILA - This is the result of the first presidential survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations that includes Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

The survey was taken between Sept. 5 and 6 and was commissioned by a number of private individuals, including some members of the business community.

It was not a national survey but it covers Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Region 3 and Region 4A, an area that covers an estimated 40 percent of registered voters.

10 percent of the respondents belonged to the A, B and C classes, or the wealthy and middle class, while 90 percent belong to the D and E classes, or the poor.

Despite having declared his candidacy after the survey, a whopping 50 percent of respondents said they would vote for Aquino, followed by 14 percent who said they would vote for Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar.

Statistically tied with Villar for second place is former president Joseph Estrada with 13 percent. Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero had 12 percent and vice president Noli de Castro came in last with 7 percent.

Liberal Party leaders expected Aquino to benefit from public sympathy over the death of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, but were surprised by how high his numbers are.

With 8 months to go before the election and his relatively late entry into the race Aquino is still putting his campaign together, but already he seems to have has become the front runner.

However, in an election season that is becoming full of surprises, the challenge is to keep those sky high numbers for falling back to earth.

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Roxas hints at accepting offer to be Noynoy’s running mate

Source: gmanews.tv

Senator Manuel Roxas II on Monday hinted his inclination to accept the offer to be Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III’s running mate in the 2010 elections.

“Wala namang dahilan kung bakit hindi [ko tatanggapin ang alok]. Pero gusto ko lang na mapag-isipan ng mabuti. Malaking pagbabago ito sa direksyon na tinatahak ko," Roxas told reporters Monday.

(There is no reason why I won’t accept [the offer]. But I’m still thinking things over, because this will definitely change the direction of my political plans.)

He reiterated his promise to be an ally of and to take part in Senator Aquino’s campaign for reform in the country.

"Sabi ko nga dati, hindi kami maghihiwalay ni Sen. Noynoy. Kabahagi ako sa isinusulong niyang pagbabago sa ating bansa. Ang 2010 polls ay [pagtutuos ng] tuwid kontra sa baluktot, tama kontra sa mali, kabutihan kontra sa kasamaan na nakikita natin sa ngayon; at kabahagi ako sa laban na yan," Roxas said.

(As I said, Sen. Noynoy and I will not part ways. I am part of his campaign for reforms. The 2010 elections will be marked by a contest between straight against crooked, right against wrong, good against evil; I am taking part in this fight.)

Asked when he is going to announce his decision, Roxas said, there is no set deadline yet, adding that the most important thing is that he is promoting the candidacy of Aquino.

On the other hand, Roxas said he was happy with the result of the recent Social Weather Stations survey showing that 50 percent of the respondents chose Aquino over other presidential candidates. [See: GMA News report here]

"Natutuwa ako na nakatulong ako para maisakatuparan at mabigyang daan ang matinding kauhawan ng ating mga kababayan para sa pagbabago, para sa tuwid at tapat na pamamahala na nasa mga kamay ni Sen. Noynoy Aquino," the senator said.

(I’m happy that I was able to help in the realization of the people’s clamor for change, for honest governance which is in Sen Aquino.)

On September 1, Roxas announced that he made a sacrifice and gave way to Aquino to become the standard bearer of Liberal Party in the 2010 presidential election. [See: Mar gives way to Noynoy as Liberal Party standard bearer]

Shortly after announcing his decision to run for president, Aquino asked Roxas to be his running mate.

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Marcos son 'belittles' Noynoy's popularity

Source: gmanews.tv

Despite the perceived popularity of Senator Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III, the 2010 presidential elections will likely be a race between two presidential aspirants other than him, the son of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos said Monday.

In a statement, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Aquino's announcement of his presidential bid came a little too late, and that each of former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada and Senator Manuel Villar Jr. already got a head-start in their respective campaigns among the masses and the professionals.

"There is no doubt that Noynoy has pure intentions and that he is really willing to serve the public with all his heart. But I think Erap and Manny are already miles ahead of him," said Bongbong.

Noynoy’s father, Benigno “Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and Bongbong’s father were bitter political rivals during the 1970s and up until Ninoy’s assassination on Aug. 21, 1983.

Reconciliation among the two families appeared imminent when Bongbong and his sister Maria Imelda or Imee visited the wake of former President Corazon Aquino last August in a show of sympathy.

The congressman’s latest statement came on the heels of a television report saying that pollster Social Weather Stations found Aquino leading other presidential aspirants by a wide margin in some vote-rich Luzon provinces.



But Bongbong said: "Noynoy needs to double his efforts. He has to reach out to farmers and fishermen."

"I know he has strong appeal, and he should work on this more," he added.

For his part, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino congratulated Aquino for his reported lead in the surveys but said the senator should not let his guard down.

“Ang survey ay snapshot or litrato ng pangkasalukuyang sitwasyon at maaring magbago sa daan ng panahon (A survey is only a snapshot of the current situation, and it may change over time)," Angara said in a statement.

In response to clamors that intensified after his mother’s death, Noynoy announced that he would be running as the Liberal Party’s standard bearer in 2010.

The move came after LP President and Senator Manuel “Mar" Roxas II announced that he was giving up his own presidential ambition to support Noynoy.

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Support for Noynoy a rejection of corruption

Source: abs-cbnnews.com


MANILA - Businessman Ramon del Rosario on Monday admitted to commissioning the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on voter preference for Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III, and said he was personally "stunned' by the result.

In an interview by Ricky Carandang over ANC's Dateline Philippines, del Rosario attributed the strong showing of Aquino in the September 5-6 SWS survey in four Luzon regions to public sympathy for the late President Cory Aquino and to what the Aquino name stands for.

"I have to admit we were stunned by the results of the survey. Quite honestly, we did not expect that the level of popularity or acceptance by the public [for Aquino] would be this high this early," he said.

"I think it's a rejection of everything that's going on, what I call the runaway corruption. I think it's a strong desire for very significant change in terms of quality of governance, particularly in terms of morality in government and honest, integrity, so, factors that I guess the Aquino name stands for," del Rosario, chairman of the influential Makati Business Club (MBC), said.

He added that the support for Noynoy Aquino also reflects the "outpouring of love and admiration and support and respect for President Cory when she passed away, like, you know, carrying those feelings forward."

Mrs. Aquino died August 1. Around 250,000 joined her funeral procession from Manila Cathedral to Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City. Millions of people paid their respects through the internet.

Aquino family friend made request

Del Rosario also disclosed that he was asked by a friend of the Aquino family to help raise funds for the survey, and that it was former Senator Sergio Osmeña who framed the "rider" questions.

"I was approached by a family friend of the Aquino family to ask if we could raise funds so that they could put a rider on a survey that was going to take place in these particular regions. And the idea was to see if we could probably give additional inputs to Noynoy so that he could make his decision based on some facts. And that's why the survey was done as quickly as possible, and it was conducted on the 5th and 6th of September," he said. "As things turned out, Noynoy made his announcement before the results were out."

Del Rosario, who served as finance secretary during the Ramos administration, said he wouldn't be surprised if support for Aquino would "get eroded somewhat" during the election campaign.

However, he added that Aquino's "base of support will probably continue to be very, very strong throughout."

In the SWS survey, 50% of 1,200 respondents in the National Capital Region, Pangasinan, central Luzon, and portions of the southern Tagalog region chose Aquino over erstwhile survey leaders Senator Manny Villar, former President Joseph Estrada, Francis 'Chiz' Escudero and Vice-President Noli de Castro. The survey has a margin of error of plus/minus 3%.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD can catch up

Meanwhile, a leader of the ruling Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) said on Monday that the administration candidate can still catch up with the survey leaders given its strong machinery.

In an interview on Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG), Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay said that once the administration bet is announced and the election campaign starts, the ruling party bet will be able to gain ground in the surveys.

Pichay cited his own experience in the 2007 elections where he caught up with the survey leaders by spending heavily on political ads.

"Ang halalan naman ay next year pa, malayo pa yon. I'll give you an example: in the last election, nang tumakbo ako, napakalayo ko, hindi ako binigyan talaga na makaabot sa itaas, but medyo umabot tayo ng number 15. Given a few more days, a few more weeks, baka I would have made it. That is just one example na kung tama yung mensahe mo sa taong bayan, tama yung packaging ads, radio, e makakahabol ka," he said.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD boasts of having a strong machinery with around 70% of local officials as members of the party.

The Lakas-Kampi-CMD bet is expected to announce its bet on Wednesday after a national executive committee meeting.

Noli not running?

Pichay also said he believes that Vice-President Noli de Castro will not be joining the Lakas-Kampi-CMD, and that he may not even run for president.

"Nakikita natin yung reluctance niya. Kasi kung ikaw talaga ay desididong maglingkod sa taong bayan, hindi ka na kailangan maghantay pa ng ganito katagal. You would have announced and said that I'm running for president at gusto kong maglingkod sa taong bayan. Kaya yung reluctance na yan, that's one of the signal that he is really not interested to run in the next election," Pichay said.

Even if de Castro does not run, he said the Lakas-Kampi-CMD has other aspirants, including Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Bayani Fernando.

"He will be a big loss, but hindi naman kami nagkukulang ng mga presidentiable," Pichay said.

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