MANILA, Philippines – The slate of President Benigno Aquino III is all set to kick off the campaign period, and for the President, there is no holding back in pushing for his candidates.

Team PNoy’s proclamation rally is ready for Tuesday, February 12, the first day of the official campaign period for national candidates. The kick-off will be at the historic Plaza Miranda, with Aquino endorsing his 12 senatorial bets.

This is what the coalition’s spokesperson 2nd district Marikina Rep Miro Quimbo thinks is the asset of the administration’s ticket: the all-out support of Aquino whom he said has proven all his critics wrong in his past 3 years in office.

“We can’t deny these candidates are being backed by a good system and a President who is putting his entire performance on the line as a referendum,” he said. “Candidates were chosen principally to help the President be effective until his very last day in office. He himself realizes that more gain is needed but he needs to get the support of the Senate.”

Quimbo added that compared to the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), Team PNoy’s “personality is very clear.”

“They are individuals in support of the President’s program,” he emphasized.

“The President is calling the shots as far as these elections are concerned because he really wants to be able to ensure that what he has done in the past 3 years, he will be able to sustain and continue.”

Tight schedule

All 12 candidates of Aquino’s slate are expected to speak for 6-8 minutes on Tuesday’s proclamation rally, after which Aquino will deliver his own message to the 8,000 supporters expected to attend.

If plans push through, the program will be hosted by LP member and former actor Aga Muhlach who is running to be 2nd district Rep of Camarines Sur, and his actress wife Charlene Gonzales.

After Tuesday’s launch, the coalition is expected to visit Batangas on Wednesday, February 13, and Laguna on Thursday, February 14.

Quimbo and fellow spokesperson 4th district Quezon Rep Erin Tañada added that Aquino will join his candidates in some sorties on the campaign trail, wherein all 12 candidates will most likely be present.

On the road

On the 3 common candidates of Team PNoy also endorsed by UNA — Senators Loren Legarda and Chiz Escudero, and former censors chief Grace Poe — Quimbo emphasized that there has “already been a specific agreement that the team needs to work as a united team,” and that they are part of Team PNoy and only adopted by UNA.

But he also said it should not be an issue if not all candidates can make a specific sortie, with Tañada explaining that every individual candidate makes schedule adjustments based on strengths in specific areas.

He also explained that the coalition will break into two eventually, with 6 candidates in each team visiting various provinces and promoting Team PNoy.

“We expect that all 12 will always be in the team. Later on when the team breaks into two, we expect them to be in whatever team they will be assigned in,” he said. “We want to show the people that [members of] Team PNoy are uniting to help each other and help lift other candidates not yet in the Magic 12.” – Rappler.com