MANILA, Philippine – President Benigno Aquino III denied rumors that he is secretly supporting the candidacy of presidential aspirant Senator Grace Poe and not that of his anointed one Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
Aquino dismiss the rumor in an interview with reporters on Tuesday, February 16 (Wednesday, February 17, Manila time) in Los Angeles. He maintained he is all out for his anointed ones, administration standard-bearer Roxas and running mate Leni Robredo.
“Kung naniniwala ako sa kaniya (Poe) bakit pa ako magsi-secret-secret? Ikampanya ko na. Kung palagay ko ito talaga ang pinakamagaling na kandidato, iyon ang kampanya ko. Ang kinakampanya ko ay si Mar (Roxas) at si Leni (Robredo), isama ko na rin ‘yung mga senador ko at baka sabihin nila kinalimutan ko sila,” Aquino said.
(If I really believe in her, why would I keep it a secret? I would campaign for her. If I think she is the best candidate, I will campaign for her. I am campaigning for Mar and Leni. Let me add my senatorial candidates lest they think I’ve forgotten them.)
The President wondered aloud why such issue is circulating. After all, he said, there had been no instance when he didn’t stand by his words and actions.
“Now, secret candidate?..Paano ba sasabihin? Hindi ko malaman kung paano sabihin in a nice way e. Kailan pa ako hindi mapagkakatiwalaan sa binitawan kong salita? Kailan ba ako may ipapakita na ang gagawin kabaligtaran? Hindi ba? So iyon ang paninindigan ko,” Aquino said.
(Now, secret candidate? How do I say it? I don’t know how to say it in a nice way. Since when did I not stick to my words? When did I say one thing and do something different, right? That’s my stand.)
The birthday ‘invitation’
The rumors flew thicker when Poe went to Aquino’s birthday party on February 8, a day before the kick-off of the 2016 presidential campaign.
But Aquino said Poe was just there as a friend. It was Aquino who opened government doors for Poe when he appointed her as chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. He also invited her to run under the administration coalition in the 2013 senatorial race.
“So palagay ko naman (In my opinion), I’d like to think she went there as a friend wanting to help me celebrate my birthday, okay,” he said.
Aquino then shared how it happened.
“Nag-text siya sa akin, sabi niya: “Happy birthday.” Tapos parang ang tanda ko doon sa text – wala ang telepono ko as usual [sa tabi ko] ano – pero something to the effect na, ‘Sir, invited ba ako doon sa dinner? Hehe’ E ‘di sinagot ko ika ko, ‘If you are comfortable, of course, you are invited,'” he said.
(She texted me saying “Happy birthday.” As I recall in her text message – my phone isn’t here [with me] as usual – but something to the effect, “Sir, am I invited to the dinner? Hehe.” I replied, “If your are comfortable, of course, you are invited.”)
He revealed Poe was initially hesitant but eventually changed her mind.
“Tapos nag-text siya, sabi niya, ‘Baka magka-issue pa in so many quarters, baka hindi na lang ako pupunta pero thank you for considering me as a friend that you invited me.’ Sabi ko, ‘E di next time.’ Tapos nagbago siya ng isip dumating siya and she stayed for a few minutes, not that long,” Aquino said.
(Then she texted me, saying, ‘It might be an issue with so many quarters so I just won’t go. But thank you for considering me as a friend that you invited me.’ So I said, ‘maybe next time.’ But maybe she changed her mind so she arrived and stayed for a few minutes, not that long.)
Poe, for her part, said there was no discussion of politics. She earlier emphasized that she had maintained her friendship with Aquino despite their “political differences.”
“Pagpunta ko dun, nakita ko masaya ang pangulo. Kahit hindi naman ako nagtagal. Kasi binati ko siya tapos nabanggit nga niya na meron siyang salu-salo,” Poe said on Thursday, February 11.
(When I went there, I saw that the President was happy. I did not stay long. I greeted him, then he mentioned that he will have a party.)
Aquino met several times last year with Poe and his friend Senator Francis Escudero. The ruling Liberal Party courted Poe to be Roxas’ running mate but the neophyte senator, who was then consistenlty leading surveys, decided to gun for the presidency as an independent and with her ally Escudero. – Rappler.com
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