TV show host Kris Aquino recently asked Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan to be the official spokesperson of her brother Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, who announced on Wednesday, September 9, his presidential candidacy.
The husband of Megastar Sharon Cuneta did not confirm yesterday, September 11, if he has accepted the offer. PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other reporters interviewed him after the media conference for the Lucky Me Famealy Day at the Oakwood Premier in Ortigas, Pasig City.
"There have been initial discussions pero wala pang final [decision]," Sen. Kiko told the media. "Well, ang sinabi ko, pinag-uusapan pa lamang ito. Ang aking posisyon naman dito, kahit saan akong dalhin, kung anumang kapasidad. In whatever capacity, ako'y handang tumulong."
He suggested to the media that they wait for the official announcement, which would probably come from the son of former President Cory Aquino. He said, "Tama 'yon na nag-uusap, tama 'yon na nagkaroon ng pag-uusap at ito'y nabanggit nga. But in the end, napag-usapan nga, mayroon pang kinakailangang mga ayusin sa partido. So, si Sen. Noynoy na ang mag-a-announce siguro. Mag-uusap pa din kami."
In his announcement, Sen. Noynoy admitted that he had asked fellow Senator Mar Roxas to be his vice president, but he was still awaiting the latter's response. Despite this, many believe that the Noynoy-Mar tandem would be the Liberal party tandem in the coming 2010 election. Even former Senate President Franklin Drilon stated in an interview with Unang Hirit, "Ang aming pambato sa darating na halalan ay Noynoy-Mar sa 2010. Hindi na magbabago 'yan."
If that happens, Sen. Kiko is willing to back out of his vice-presidential bid to give way to Sen. Roxas.
He said, "'Yon din ang isang pinag-uusapan. Kung tatanggapin ni Senator Roxas ang alok ni Senator Noynoy, then I will support Noynoy-Mar tandem and I will give way. 'Yon naman na ang sinabi ko na mula't sapul. Sinabi ko na kay Senator Aquino na kung maaring tanggapin niya itong panawagan, 'yong hamon, kung tugunan at kung kinakailangan kong isantabi ang aking personal na mga plano sa pagka-bise presidente, handa akong magbigay ng suporta sa kanya."
Sen. Kiko also explained his reason for supporting the candidacy of Sen. Noynoy. He said, "Nakita ko ngayon ang isang alernatibong kandidatura sa kandidatura ni Sen. Aquino. Alternatibo dahil hindi ito 'yong dating gawi. Ang ating tinutulak dito ay ang pagbabago at reporma. At mayroon siyang simulain ng kanyang mga magulang, 'yong simulain ng sakripisyo sa serbisyo publiko, simulain ng integridad at good governance o maayos at mahusay na pamamahala at pamumuno. So, alternatibo ito sa dating gawi at bulok na pulitika, so handa tayong suportahan ang kandidatura ni Sen. Aquino."
CONTINUE SERVING AS SENATOR. Since he's willing to give way to the possibility of a Noynoy-Mar tandem in 2010, what will be his political plans in the future?
Sen. Kiko said that he would continue serving the public as a senator. He added, "Hanggang 2013 ang term natin. Marami namang problema ang ating bansa na kinakailangan nating pagkaisahan kung paano natin lulutasin, so maraming trabaho. Whether a senator or whichever, maraming trabaho. Maraming problema, maraming kailangang solusyunan."
Does his support for Sen. Noynoy mean he's returning to the Liberal Party?
Senator Kiko, who ran as an independent candidate in the last national election, replied, "Hindi ako umalis sa Liberal Party. Ako'y naging inactive. Noong 2005 pa lang, naghahanap ako ng alternatibong kandidato. Kaya nga ako nagkandidato ng independente kasi nga naghahanap ako ng alernatibong paraan para maipanalo ang isang kandidatura."
UNITING THE OPPOSITION. Despite the announcement of Sen. Noynoy's presidential bid, ex-President Joseph Estrada still hasn't backed out of his intention to run for the highest electoral position in 2010. There would still be a division in the opposition.
Will the Liberal Party also ask Estrada to drop his presidential ambition and support its standard bearer?
Sen. Kiko said that the political party is open to anyone who wants to support Sen. Noynoy.
I agree with you - Noynoy should still go after the ill gotten wealth of the Marcoses and he should also add to his agenda - the audit of all of the anomalies Arroyo and family have gotten themselves into.
Yung ngang nag shoplift ng 1 thousand pesos para mapakain sa pamilya niya dahil walang trabaho - ikinukulong - so dapat lang na nagkasala should be treated the same way.Nakaw is nakaw!
I also think the Bong2 Marcos is a bit worry as he even said that Noynoy should have his priorities.I think a country as poor as ours should always have as one of its priorities -chasing what has been stolen from it - di ba?
Kaya pala nag-asawa kay Sharon.
Bumming around UP daw c kiko kaya kinuha ni Korina. tsk...tsk...
Be reasonable and explain why some posts are deleted or atleast you can;t find it after a day or so. I posted comments and tried very hard to follow your rules but when I return to look at them again, they are gone. Is it your policy to allow posts that sound immature than one that has substance? Or you try to keep the viewers amused by their bickering about shallow comments, etc. instead of some comments that make sense?
Hindi Kawatan!
Noy, ingat ka sa mag-asawang ito.
Sasak-sakin kang patalikod nyan.
Remember, si kiko malaki ang naging papel niya kaya naloklok si glorya sa puwesto kaya naging ganito ang pilipinas. di ba Mr. Noted? di ko talaga malipmutan yun lalo nung nabali ang kanyang pamokpok. Note! Noted!
If you or your party want opposition unity, you must negotiate with them. LP should not go to the media telling them to back-off and support you.
It does not look good. It looks like bullying to me.
Hoynoy just poured icy water to a thawing issue with the Marcoses. What do you think the Marcoses will do, they will clam down. Noynoy just lost million votes from northern Luzon.
The elite / civil society are not enough to put you in office. Bring people in not cut them off, not now, not before the election.
and two: our country does not have a lot of consulate offices to allow them to register.I was not aware of any other alternative to register other than to go to the consulate directly. They dont have any alternative sites. Hence, someone living in say - Adelaide in Australia will have no hope as the consulate is only in Sydney and the embassy is in Canberra.Plus of course if they do try and go to the consulate -it will entail costs etc etc.
Yes, a lot of us here in PEP want to vote for Noynoy but the reality is a lot of those who want to do it are not registered voters. And yes, I did ask the consulate what the procedures will be with the actual voting-they said they will inform us in due course.Unbelievable- surely this is not the first time people wanted to register for an election!! Oh well I am doing what I could to address my conscience.
There are over 5 million Filipinos overseas and even if only 20 percent registered - you will get 1 million people. This can help determine the outcome of the next election. I read somewhere in late August that only close to 200,000 have registered! What happened? I hope I am wrong with the figures.I have received emails and FB postings from friends also living overseas that they were one: not aware of the August 31 deadline which I nearly missed myself had I decided to register on the deadline that was a public holiday for the embassy and two: our country does not have a lot of consulated, etc to enable them to facilitate registration.
If Noynoy does get elected - he needs someone who can enforce peace and order whilst he tackles the economy and other matters of the state.Noynoy will not be able to function well if he does not have the peace and order including the loyalty of the army addressed and controlled by a trusted deputy.
Having Noynoy and Mar together is like having 2 persons doing the same thing. Noynoy needs to get someone who could complement his presidency.
Now here's the rub - block voting is not practiced in our country.Hence, Noynoy can be president and heaven forbid,Jinggoy could be the VP-as he has just sent feelers that he is interested to join Villar if his father decided to back out. I am already getting a headache with the thought.
Every back-out for Noynoy.
Yeah they can really convince people.
Ngayon lang niya sinabi kasi alam nila na wala silang laban against Aquino.
I could see thru them!!!
Wala na bang iba kundi si Roxas ang maging Vice?
Ok si Aquino sa akin, pero si Roxas hindi.... so that's my problem!!!!