Benigno Noynoy Aquino: Philippine President 2010

DAVAO CITY — Mayor Rodrigo Duterte officially proclaimed Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino as his presidential bet in a rally by the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod, Duterte’s local political party, Friday evening.

On Thursday evening, Duterte’s chief aide Lawrence “Bong” Go confirmed that the mayor will be officially declaring his support for Aquino’s candidacy. The declaration of support came one month before the May 10 elections.

Few months ago, Duterte had also publicly declared his support for vice presidentiable and Senator Mar Roxas who is also from the Liberal Party. In the senatorial line-up, Duterte however declared only one from the Liberal Party few weeks ago in the person of former senator Franklin Drilon.

The Liberal Party, nonetheless, is in full force to give their support to Duterte. In their advisory, Aquino, Roxas and the entire senatorial slate of the LP are here in town for two days to go around and campaign.

The LP slate arrived in Davao City Friday afternoon and immediately went on a motorcade and people’s march thru the city’s thoroughfares. Private sector supporters also had an afternoon with the candidates at Marco Polo Hotel. In the evening, the LP candidates attended the grand rally of Hugpong at the Freedom Park just fronting the hotel.

On Saturday, the LP bets will be visiting Davao del Sur where they will hold a rally at the old terminal in Digos City and will proceed to Padada town for a short stop. The team will then proceed to Surallah and Marbel towns for motorcade before holding a press conference at Fitmart in Marbel.

By BEN O. TESIORNA
Source: mb.com.ph

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. on Monday endorsed Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and running mate Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Speaking at a press conference held here, Davide said he considered Aquino and Roxas “the best choice for the Filipino electorate, for the good of our country.”

“When it comes to the position of president and vice president of our country. We need people who could clearly lead our country sincerely, authentically for the common good and for the interest of the people,” he explained.

Davide, who had just resigned as Philippine Ambassador to United Nations, effective April 1, arrived home to help in the campaign of his son, Hilario III and running mate incumbent vice-governor Gregorio Sanchez. Both are running under the Liberal Party against Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and her running mate Glenn Soco of One Cebu party.

While campaigning for his son was the main reason he faced the local media, Davide also bared his candidates for president and vice president.

“And for the national slate, with all my heart, with all my mind, I am actually endorsing Noynoy and Mar Roxas, not because they are all friends of mine. As a matter of fact, I would like to tell you that all the candidates are my good friends,” he said.

He added that his endorsement of friends running for elective position would be based on their capability to serve with the highest degree of integrity and the highest degree of accountability the public position that they are seeking or aspiring for.

By Jhunnex Napallacan
Source: inquirer.net

On the eve of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s 63rd birthday, Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III offered prayers of enlightenment for the outgoing Commander-in-Chief.

“May God grant her the wisdom to finally do right in her remaining time in office,” Aquino said in a text message to the Manila Bulletin.

At the same time, when asked what he considers as Arroyo’s best legacy or worthy project under her administration, Aquino retorted, “we will have to think more about that question.”

Mrs. Arroyo is likely to skip her birthday celebration in her hometown of Lubao in Pampanga province, if First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo still needs her to stay in the hospital. But as of Sunday, it looked likely that GMA will celebrate her birth anniversary with a mass in Lubao Church.

President Arroyo has set up a temporary office at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City since her husband was brought there last March 25.

On Tuesday, the First Gentleman was moved to a regular room from the intensive care unit, even as Mrs. Arroyo met with some of her Cabinet officials at the hospital.

“I hold no personal animosity against her. This is a matter of my conviction, that government is there to serve the people and this government did not serve the people,” Aquino stressed.

Aquino also said that justice must come first before any reconciliation with President Arroyo.

“Justice has to be foremost. Things that have transpired in the past nine and a half years cannot be swept aside,” Aquino told reporters.

Aquino and his running mate Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II earlier joined the Filipino nation in commemorating Easter Sunday with prayers and reflection.

“As we enjoy a short reprieve from the constant grind of work, may we remember the events in Christ’s life, and strive to follow His example of sacrifice and compassion for His fellow man,” Aquino and Roxas said in a statement.

“May we not lose sight of the true essence of the season: that every passion and Calvary has its own Easter redemption,” they added.

By: Roy Mabasa
Source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III vowed yesterday to nullify all the illegal appointments made by President Arroyo during the election ban.

Aquino said the so-called “midnight appointments” of Mrs. Arroyo could be invalidated since most of them are in the executive department.

He cited Article VII Section 14 of the Constitution, which provides that an incoming president, in this case the successor of Mrs. Arroyo, has up to three months or 90 days or until August to invalidate all the unlawful acts of his predecessor.

“I intend to exercise that prerogative under Article VII Section 14 of the Constitution where we have up to 90 days to void all of those illegal appointments,” he told The STAR, when asked whether he will void the unlawful or whimsical appointments of Mrs. Arroyo.

“We intend to govern in the opposite manner of President Arroyo’s governance. People who will serve with us should have that philosophy of good governance. They (GMA appointees) have to subscribe to our good governance policy,” he added.

“We will also study and judge her appointments on a case-to-case basis, it will be done fairly and purely on the merits,” he explained.

He said that if elected, he will create a commission that will investigate and “put closure” on all of Mrs. Arroyo’s deals for the last nine years, or until the end of her term on June 30.

Aquino earlier cautioned the Supreme Court against standing by its March 17 decision allowing the President to appoint the next chief justice despite the election ban, saying Congress could provide a check and balance to its abuses.

He pointed out that initiating an impeachment proceeding is an option of any chief executive, including himself if he wins the presidency, and that this is a legal recourse that could somehow correct erroneous rulings.

“We have a check and balance on cases like this. The legislature has the power of impeachment, if they (lawmakers) feel there are grounds to impeach an official from a constitutional body. That is open to any president,” he told newsmen.

“I think we have adequate checks and balances. We have to be governed by our system of laws. Here, the SC made a 180-degree turn from its established doctrine. Nothing to my mind had changed through 1998 to the present that would warrant a 180-degree shift.”

An impeachment proceeding can be initiated against officials of a constitutional body, like the SC, especially if its members committed a “culpable” violation of the 1987 Constitution, in this case amending a provision despite an appointments ban two months before the polls.

A culpable violation of the Constitution is one of the main grounds for impeachment. SC justices could only be removed from office through impeachment or they will have to serve until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 70.

“We need the new Congress having to organize itself to determine whether or not there is a need for the impeachment process. That is one of the avenues,” Aquino, a former three-term Tarlac congressman, explained further.

Impeachment of the chief justice who will accept the appointment from Mrs. Arroyo, including the nine justices who voted to allow the appointment despite a constitutional ban, would not be far-fetched, especially if it can be proven that they violated the law.

“If it can be proven the decision was not done based on sound legal principles, that might be a ground for impeaching an impeachable officer,” he said, referring to an Arroyo appointment.

Aquino joined the critics of the SC, which allowed the President to appoint the Chief Justice despite an election ban, saying amending the 1987 Constitution is not one of the SC’s mandates.

“The last time I checked, amending the Constitution is not among its (SC) functions. They have no business amending the Charter,” he said, referring to the SC ruling giving the JBC authority to submit its shortlist of nominees to Mrs. Arroyo.

He said it was a “180-degree turn” to the Vallarta doctrine that the SC ruled in 1998, when it nullified the midnight appointment of former President Fidel Ramos to the judiciary, but which former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa rebuffed, citing the constitutional prohibition.

Aquino said that while they will have to respect the SC verdict, no matter how unacceptable it is, the recourse at this point is to file a motion for reconsideration and possibly seek clarification regarding the prevailing jurisprudence.

Noynoy resumes campaign

Aquino said he would continue to solicit the support of voters after the Holy Week.

He was with El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde for the Easter celebration yesterday.

“We discussed concerns regarding the (poll) automation,” he said.

Aquino will return to Bulacan as he resumes his campaign sorties after taking a Lenten break.

LP vice presidential bet Sen. Manuel Roxas II expects their rivals to do all they could, including an increase in dirty tricks to be able to cut their lead in the surveys.

LP campaign manager Florencio Abad said the party could not wait for the real administration candidate to come out so that the people could decide more wisely in the coming elections.

Abad stressed they were not panicking over the reported alliance between President Arroyo and Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. even if this would mean the administration’s machinery could be used for the NP bet.

“In fact, we already want the (battle lines) to be drawn clearly because we want the fight to be man-to-man already. Opposition versus the administration. I think the natural gravitation of a presidential race is a bipolar race, we already know who the real opposition candidate is, so we’re just waiting for the real administration bet to come out,” Abad said.

Abad said Mrs. Arroyo would not want Aquino to win because he was already planning to put up a commission to look into the allegations of anomalies against the outgoing president.

He was also expecting that allies of the President would desert Lakas-Kampi-CMD to join Villar’s NP. With Aurea Calica

Source: philstar.com

MEXICO, Pampanga—Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has just sharpened the anticorruption jabs of his presidential campaign.

Explaining a new political ad in which he proclaims, “Hindi ako magnanakaw ( I will not steal),” Aquino told reporters here Friday that this meant he would “lead by example” and pursue a two-prong strategy to “put a stop to corruption” in the Philippines.

Noynoy Aquino

The Liberal Party standard-bearer said his formula involved the strict enforcement of anticorruption laws on one hand, and on the other, the provision of “sufficient means” for government employees to be able to fend for their families.

Aquino and his running mate, Sen. Manuel Roxas, were in town to attend the wake of Marciliano “Bong” Dizon, a coordinator of the Noynoy Aquino for President Movement who was gunned down by two men on Wednesday.

“We have good laws [that punish and prevent graft and corruption]. All we need to do is enforce those laws,” Aquino said.

A case in point, he said, was the P728-million fertilizer scam where the money
was allegedly used for election spending. “This took place in 2004 but was only investigated in 2008. So when would the investigation and trial be over? A witness in the Senate has already been killed. So how can we ensure justice? When there’s wrongdoing, it should have an equivalent punishment through good prosecution supported by a fair judicial system,” he said.

The carrot side of the strategy, he said, was to provide sufficient means for government employees to fend for their families and give an education to their children.

On reports that his closest rival, Sen. Manuel Villar, had eaten into his lead, Aquino begged to disagree.

“What is clear to me is that while my opponent has placed many ads and I did otherwise, I still maintained a solid foothold,” he said, adding that he expected his lead to widen as the campaign deepened.

Aquino said his hectic provincial visits had greatly reduced his sleeping hours.

In La Union on Thursday, he and Roxas had their hands full with several invitations that ended with dinner at 11 p.m.

The next day, he said, they were up at 4 a.m. to make it to Tarlac, Aquino’s home province, and then to Pampanga.

He said that as a senator, he is used to working late hours but for health reasons, he makes sure to get four to five hours of sleep.

So will he be a sleepless president? His reply: “When it’s needed. But people who don’t sleep may not make sound decisions.”

Security concerns may slow down his campaign.

Of 20 security personnel he requested from the Philippine National Police, he said he got 10. “Only six are available for now. The four are due for training or reporting,” he said.

Aquino said he would campaign in 80 provinces within 90 days, covering a minimum of one province a day. At that rate, six security personnel would not be enough, he said.

“I will adjust to the system because that is what is allowed us,” he said.

On the statement of another presidential candidate, Sen. Richard Gordon, that the presidency cannot be bought or inherited, Aquino said he agreed with his colleague.

“But let us also say that principles can be inherited. An outlook to serve the people can also be inherited. Getting a sense of what’s right and wrong and what distinguishes the two are learned and inherited from parents,” he said.

The parents of Aquino are martyred Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., who was killed as he returned from exile to lead the opposition against then dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and the late President Corazon Aquino, who beat Marcos and caused his ouster following the Edsa I Revolution.

“On the presidency, my father had said, ‘I can open the door for you but it is up to you if it will remain open.’ I ran in four elections and my door has remained open. For sure I have accomplishments to make that door open,” he said.

By: Tonette Orejas
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III yesterday said he is making house building for the poor through Gawad Kalinga (GK) part of his platform of governance.

Aquino and running mate Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II yesterday attended the 60th birthday celebration of GK founder Tony Meloto in Barangay Bagong Silang in Caloocan City to show support for his advocacy.

Noynoy and Mar

GK Bagong Silang, built in 1999, is the first-ever housing project built for the poor in Caloocan.

Before the GK village was built, Bagong Silang was reputed to be a breeding ground of criminals and a dump of assassination victims.

Today, it is a peaceful community of responsible and hardworking people with simple but beautiful homes.

Aquino said he is amazed by the transformation of Bagong Silang and promised to build similar communities in slum areas all over the country.

“Because of your hard work, cooperation, willingness to change your community and yourselves and allowing GK to help you, you were able to transform this place. GK Bagong Silang is now a picture of a successful Philippines,” Aquino told the residents of the village.

“This is what I want to replicate all over the country, not just build homes but to change and correct what is wrong in our country,” he added.

Aquino promised that once he is elected, he will provide for the needs of the poor by following Meloto’s example.

“My hats off to Mr. Meloto, the Couples for Christ (CFC), and Gawad Kalinga for transforming the poor and slum communities. They walked the talk and did not merely give empty promises,” he said.

For his birthday wish, Meloto said the next president should make community development a priority in governance.

“One of my birthday wishes is for a new president who will make this holistic, community-based development platform as the priority of the new administration,” he said.

New campaign strategy

Aquino said he would no longer prioritize attending presidential forums or debates if the issues are not focused on the country’s problems and the ills of the Arroyo administration that need to be addressed.

He said he would still attend some of them and accommodate interviews but would focus on discussing his work in the Senate and other activities related to his campaign instead of personal issues.

He pointed out that he paid attention to the budget and the joint session of Congress on the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao in December and hardly spent time on his campaign.

“I have other obligations and I must balance my work and the campaign because I promised to serve (as a lawmaker),” Aquino said.

He said he voted against the P1.541-trillion national budget because it contains provisions that are anomalous.

“Everyone is claiming they want change but where were they when we were discussing important issues like the budget? This is an important tool to influence the policy of government,” he added.

Aquino said he is prioritizing his work in the Senate over invitations
to debates.

“I would not be able to do anything if I would keep debating with people,” he said.

By: Patricia Esteves
Source: The Philippine Star

MEXICO, Pampanga – Liberal Party standard bearer Senator Benigno Aquino III and his running mate, Senator Manuel Roxas II on Friday visited the wake held for a slain volunteer here last Wednesday.

Aquino and Roxas prayed silently before the coffin of Marciliano “Bong” Dizon, Noynoy Aquino for President Movement (NAPM) coordinator in Mexico town.

Aquino-Roxas Tandem

An NAPM yellow shirt covered a portion of the glass cover. At the foot was a large poster that said: “Justice for Bong D.”

Aquino said he and the LP would seek justice unceasingly for Dizon, 45.

He was attending the wake of a man he considered his father in Barangay (village) San Pedro Camuning when two men appeared and attacked Dizon at around 6 p.m.

Dizon was shot five times in the head, NAPM Pampanga chief operating officer Sandy Quiwa-Bansil said.

“Hindi natin ito tatantanan [We will pursue justice without let-up],” Aquino said in an interview.

Roxas called the killing a “tragedy” but said the incident was no reason to live in fear.

Aquino said the murder of Dizon indicated how difficult the peace and order situation was in the country.

In a statement, NAPM said it viewed with “great concern” the killing of Dizon.

“This detestable act shows the ugly face of the electoral process,” it said.

Superintendent Ferdinand Perez, Mexico police chief, said investigators were looking at a love triangle angle.

Dizon’s brother, Fernando, and Bansil said they did not think so.

“It’s a politically motivated killing,” said Bansil, recalling that Dizon, 45, received death threats and was the subject of police checkpoints after a politician in the town learned that Dizon was actively organizing volunteers and supporters for Aquino.

Perez said Dizon was a former member of the Rebolusyunaryong Hukbong Bayan.

By: Tonette Orejas

Source: inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines – Presidential aspirant Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is scheduled to go to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s home province of Pampanga Friday morning for the wake and funeral of a campaign volunteer.

“He will be in Mexico, Pampanga at 10 a.m. to visit the funeral-wake of the slain NAPM (Ninoy Aquino for President Movement) volunteer,” according to Aquino’s spokesman lawyer Edwin Lacierda.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III

Mexico belongs to the third district of Pampanga. President Arroyo is running for a congressional seat in the second district.

On Thursday, Aquino opposed proposals by administration allies for President Arroyo to appoint the next chief justice of the Supreme Court due to the constitutional ban on midnight appointments.

“If elected President, I will not recognize a Chief Justice appointed by the outgoing President, contrary to the constitutional ban on appointments during the wee hours of her presidency, and contrary to propriety and delicadeza and long standing precedence of prohibition against appointments two month before the outgoing president’s term expires,” Aquino said in a statement sent Thursday night.

“Let me forewarn any member of the Supreme Court who shall accept to be Chief Justice by appointment of the outgoing President, that not only shall he not be recognized, but he risks even his presence in the Court as an associate member,” he added.

Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires in May 17, which is within the 3-month ban on appointments by outgoing presidents.

However, administration allies have argued that the SC cannot afford not to have a chief justice during a crucial period such as elections. They are also not keen on the SC associate justices electing an acting chief justice.

Source: abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Valenzuela 2nd District Councilor Shalani Soledad is tight-lipped when it comes to her love affair with presidential contender Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Soledad declined to elaborate on their relationship. The high-profile political pair reportedly want to keep their privacy.

Shalani Soledad and Sen. Noynoy Aquino

Asked what makes their relationship “different” from other couples, however, Soledad replied: “I think ‘Noy and I, when we met, it just happened. There is an instant attraction.”

In an interview with Aquino’s youngest sister Kris Aquino-Yap, published in “The Buzz” magazine, Soledad said she fell in love with Aquino because “unknown to many, he’s very sweet, has a great sense of humor [and he is very thoughtful].”

Though slightly more chatty with Kris, Soledad still gave short answers to love-related questions.

When Kris asked why she loves Aquino, Soledad answered: “He lets me be what I am.”

Asked why Aquino loves her, she said: “I understand him.”

‘Support system’

Noynoy Aquino’s love life is proving to be an effective tool in clinching the interest of voters during campaign sorties.

In one such campaign event, Kris Aquino-Yap introduced Soledad as “the girl who holds Noynoy’s heart.” After calling Soledad onstage, Yap asked her to promise not to break Aquino’s heart–prompting the crowd to cheer and tease.

Some political analysts like Angelito Banayo believe, however, that Aquino still needs to focus on more substantial messages like his specific plans for government, his principles as well as his track record.

Soledad told ABS-CBN News that she will be Aquino’s “support system” during and after the 2010 polls.

True to form, Soledad defended Aquino against criticisms hurled by rival candidates who are questioning Aquino’s lack of experience and his family’s role in the controversial property Hacienda Luisita.

Though she says she is hurt by criticisms against Aquino, Soledad reportedly knows this is part of politics.

Loyalties

In the interview with ABS-CBN News, Soledad evaded questions about whether she and Aquino plan to marry.

“We are still focused on the elections and how to campaign for Noy,” she said.

She vowed to let the public know if they have imminent wedding plans. Should Aquino win as president,

Soledad may be called upon to act as the country’s First Lady. However, Soledad claims the possibility of being First Lady is still far from her mind.

Prior to joining politics, Soledad was a former Senate staffer for Sen. Ping Lacson, an opposition candidate. Soledad later ran and won as Valenzuela councilor under the administration party Lakas-CMD in 2007.

She transferred to the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), of which Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian is the spokesperson.

Last year, Soledad took her oath under NPC, but jumped ship a few weeks later to join the LIberal Party, which chose Aquino as its standard-bearer.

Source: abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Liberal Party standard-bearer Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III warned Thursday night that, if elected President, he would not recognize any successor to Chief Justice Reynato Puno named by outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He also warned that any justice of the high court who accepts such an appointment from Arroyo “risks even his presence in the Court as an associate member” under an Aquino presidency.

Sen. Noynoy Aquino

“If elected President, I will not recognize a Chief Justice appointed by the outgoing President, contrary to the constitutional ban on appointments during the wee hours of her presidency, and contrary to propriety and delicadeza and long standing precedence of prohibition against appointments two months before the outgoing President’s term expires,” Aquino said in a statement sent to the Inquirer via text message by LP campaign manager Florencio Abad.

” Let me forewarn any member of the Supreme Court, who shall accept to be Chief Justice by appointment of the outgoing President, that not only shall he not be recognized, but he risks even his presence in the Court as an associate member,” Aquino added.

The senator issued the statement amid debates as to whether President Arroyo could still appoint a replacement for outgoing Court Justice Reynato Puno.

Puno is set to retire on May 17.

The Constitution prohibits the sitting president from making any appointment two months before she steps down from office.

By: Maila Ager Philip Tubeza
Source: INQUIRER.net