Mar 03, 2010
Noynoy: If I win, I won't run for any position after my term
By Johanna Camille Sisante
GMA news.tv
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte -- If Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino wins the presidency, he promises not to follow the footsteps of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in running for a lower office when his term ends.
Aquino made the promise Tuesday in a press conference at the Leyte Park Hotel in this major Visayan capital city, where he and his running mate Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II are campaigning.
"If I win this election, this will be my last run in public office," Aquino said.
The Liberal Party standard bearer, the only son of former president Corazon Aquino who died last year, said the more than two years he spent as senator, nine years as congressman, and six years as the son of the president of the republic, was enough for him.
In contrast, President Arroyo-who served as senator from 1992 to 1998, vice president from 1998 to 2001, and president since-is seeking a House seat as representative of Pampanga's second district. It is the first time in Philippine history that a Philippine president ran for a lower office after his or her term in Malacañang.
Like LP standard-bearer Aquino, Mrs. Arroyo also had a foretaste of life in the Presidential Palace as the daughter of a former Philippine president, Diosdado Macapagal.
And, like Aquino, she also holds a bachelor's degree in economics.
Aquino, however, has consistently stressed the differences between him and Mrs. Arroyo. A staunch critic of alleged corruption in the Arroyo government, he reiterated his campaign promise that he would not steal public funds.
Mar 03, 2010
Aquino optimistic to get support of Tacloban voters
By Maila Ager
Inquirer.net - Philippines
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines -- Senator and presidential aspirant Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III arrived here Tuesday to campaign in the province ruled by the family and relatives of former First Lady Imelda Marcos.
Marcos is the wife of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, who was blamed for the death of the senator's father and namesake, martyred Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.
Marcos' son, Ilocos Norte Representative Ferdinand "Bong-Bong" Marcos Jr. is running for senator under the banner of Nacionalista Party's bet Senator Manny Villar, known as Aquino's closest rival.
Senator Aquino said he isconfident of getting the support of residents here just like what they did when they voted for him in the 2007 senatorial race.
"Ah maganda ho resulta natin dito sa Tacloban noong senatorial election (The result here in Tacloban when we ran in the senatorial elections was good). Maganda ho ang pagtanggap sa atin noong senatorial race (The support for us here during the senatorial race was good) and I expect the same or even more," he told reporters when he arrived here shortly before 4:00 p.m.
The senator was accompanied by his running mate, Senator Mar Roxas.
"Tayo po ay nandito, susuyo sa ating mga kapatid sa Leyte (We are here to court our brothers in Leyte)," he said.
The tandem was about two hours behind the scheduled arrival of 1: 40 pm, citing some unexpected occurrences while campaigning in another city here.
Actor Richard Gomez, an LP member, was among those, who received Aquino and Roxas at the airport.
Gomez is seeking a congressional seat as representative of Ormoc City but was disqualified by the Commission on Elections "for lack of residency requirements."
Because of the delay, Aquino failed to show up in some radio interviews here. He proceeded instead to a press conference held at the Leyte Park Hotel.
The highlight of his campaign here would be a multi-sectoral forum with businessmen in the evening to be held at the Asia Convention Center.
Asked by a reporter why there was no political rally in his schedule, Aquino explained that this would take more time than going to local radio stations or television to reach the masses.
"Babalik kami dito pagdating ng local elections pero ang tinatarget kasi namin (We will return during the local campaign period but what we are targeting is) something like 27 provinces in three weeks and to maximize the reach, you will have to go through media either radio or TV or both," he said.
"Dahil pag nag rally tayo mahaba na oras na kakailanganin po nun, hindi makakaya ang 27 provinces maski tig-iisang rally po yun at di maabot ang mga botanteng gustong maabot (Because if we hold a rally, it will take longer and we can't cover 27 provinces even if we hold only one rally. We cannot reach the voters that we want to reach)," he further said.
