Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:21:00 10/19/2009
Filed Under: Inquirer Politics, Eleksyon 2010, Benigno Aquino III
MANILA, Philippines—A young political party seems immune from the “yellow fever” that is fast spreading, together with the rising popularity of the No. 1 presidential aspirant, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.Ang Kapatiran president Eric Manalang on Sunday said his group had rejected invitations to support Aquino because the Liberal Party standard-bearer was offering the usual “trapo (traditional) politics.”
“This Noynoy phenomenon again shows the highest form of personality politics, one that is driving the elite from all sides—from the time of the Marcoses and Cojuangcos to the time of the Arroyos—to unite and bet on him,” Manalang told the Inquirer.
“Once again, members of the elite are bringing the other clueless middle class to their fold,” he said.
Aquino, who topped the latest Social Weather Stations survey of presidential aspirants, nevertheless continued to draw cheers, especially in his provincial tours.
On Saturday, he revved up the party machinery in Bohol by tapping show biz celebrity Cesar Montano as one of his lieutenants in the province.
New epidemic
Manalang’s statements marked a rare, if not the first, instance an opposing political party became openly critical of Aquino since the senator declared his intention to run for president on Sept. 9.
Clamor mounted for the only son of the late President Corazon Aquino and martyred opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. to aim for Malacañang after his mother died of colon cancer on Aug. 1.
“Everyone catches the ‘yellow’ fever which is now an epidemic that doesn’t exactly bring more principles in Philippine politics,” Manalang said, alluding to the campaign color adopted by Aquino’s parents.
Formed in 2004, Kapatiran promotes itself as an alternative to the more established parties, espousing what it calls “politics of virtue,” nonviolence and the application of Church teachings to governance. It took part in national elections for the first time in 2007.
Manalang also questioned Aquino’s campaign strategy, particularly when it started encouraging ordinary Filipinos to contribute to his campaign fund.
“It’s crazy. These people (Aquino and his backers) have all the money. The call is just a matter of sound bites,” he said.
Manalang also questioned Aquino’s track record in public service.
Any super deeds?
“It’s as if Noynoy has done any super deeds in the past,” Manalang said. “He really hasn’t done anything that would be anywhere near what his mother or father had done.”
According to his official website www.noynoy.ph, Aquino has authored a total of nine bills and eight resolutions in his tenure as senator.
The party has announced it would field Olongapo City Councilor JC de los Reyes in next year’s presidential derby.
Ang Kapatiran has also filled up eight of the 12 slots in its senatorial lineup, Manalang disclosed. They included Dominador Chipeco Jr., a human resource expert from Laguna; Reginald Tamayo, a longtime councilor from Aparri, Cagayan; and Manny Valdehueza, an “anti-trapo” advocate from Cagayan de Oro City.
The ticket will again include Martin Bautista, Jesus Paredes, and Adrian Sison, who all ran for senator in 2007, Manalang said.
Bohol welcome
In Tagbilaran City, Aquino and his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, received a warm welcome from supporters during a mass oath-taking ceremony for LP members.
In his solidarity message, Aquino reiterated his platform, which, he said, would be anchored on good governance, transparency, fighting graft and corruption, and sound and sustainable development and commitment to the poor.
“Corruption is the single biggest threat to our democracy. It deprives the poor of the social services they badly need. It destroys the moral fiber of our society,” Aquino told the gathering at JJ’s Seafood Village. With a report from Kit Bagaipo, Inquirer Visayas
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091019-230826/This-group-hasnt-caught-yellow-fever
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