Don’t expect President Aquino to drop out of the campaign battlefield anytime soon.
Malacañang has affirmed that the President intends to continue to campaign for the “Daang Matuwid” coalition despite calls made by Sen. Francis Joseph G. Escudero to remain on the sidelines and just ensure clean and credible polls this May.
“President Aquino is actively campaigning for the candidates of the Daang Matuwid Coalition because he believes it is his duty to our Bosses – the Filipino people – to ensure the continuity of good governance that is essential to the attainment of inclusive growth for future generations of Filipinos,” Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. explained.
Despite his involvement in the administration campaign, Coloma assured that the President is also “determined to ensure the conduct of fair and credible election by respecting the independence of the Commission on Elections.”
Escudero earlier said the President should not have endorsed any candidate in the May elections and just supervised the conduct of clean and fair elections. The independent vice presidential candidate said the President’s straight path governance would have shown fair play if he did not join the campaign activities.
Aquino has endorsed former Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II as his preferred successor, believing he has integrity and competence to expand the gains of his presidency.
Aquino has joined recent campaign sorties to rally support for Roxas and his running mate Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo while taking potshots at their rivals in the May polls. In his schedule, Aquino attended governance events in the morning before joining the Liberal Party campaign rallies in the afternoon.
In his recent visit to Cebu, the President admitted that some people have advised him against endorsing candidates in the elections to avoid earning more enemies.
But instead of choosing to have a quiet life, Aquino said he decided to endorse the Daang Matuwid coalition as part of his responsibility being the father of the nation. He said he could not just abandon the people and leave the nation’s fate to chance.
Ever since he endorsed Roxas, Aquino said he knew he would attract more enemies who will grab every chance to hurl insults and attack his administration to gain publicity.
“Alam naman po natin kung gaano kadumi ang pulitika sa bansang ito,” Aquino said during the Liberal Party campaign rally in Mandaue City, Cebu last Thursday.
“Palagay ko, hindi ako tatantanan ng kung ano-anong mga akusasyon at kabulastugan. Ang importante lang, mailagay ang mga sarili nila sa pahayagan,” Aquino added. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)