Abad denies LP’s hand in pro-PNoy re-election ad

The ruling Liberal Party has nothing to do with the full-page newspaper ad that was published on Tuesday urging President Benigno Aquino III to seek re-election in 2016, Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad said.

“Hindi naman namin kilala kung sino yung nag-ad na yun,” Abad, an LP stalwart, said in a chance interview at the Senate. “I don’t think we have anything to do with them.”

Abad was referring to a paid advertisement published on the Philippine Daily Inquirer by a group called Movement for Reform, Continuity and Momentum (More2come) seeking eight million signatures to urge Aquino to seek re-election.

The group said Aquino’s re-election can be allowed by amending the Constitution, noting that the administration has the numbers in Congress to initiate Charter change.

“As of today, the most visible possible successors are in a bind. One is beset by fatal corruption baggage and the other by perennial low ratings. The others are simply inexperienced,” the group said.

Although it did not mention any names, the group could be referring to Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is facing a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, whose ratings in poll surveys have been low except in the latest Pulse Asia survey on 2016 presidentiables where he ranked second to Binay.

The group could also be referring to neophyte Senator Grace Poe, who is reportedly being groomed to run for president in 2016.

Of the three, only Binay has expressed intention to seek the highest post in the land in the next elections.

In its advertisement, More2come said Aquino “is still the best and only successor.”

“PNoy must now seek a second term in order to make sure that the country stays coursed on the right road and headed for continued growth and reform,” the advertisement reads.

PNoy willing to listen

Abad said though the administration does not know the people behind the ad, he said Aquino is willing to listen to the concerns of the group.

“Ang sabi naman niya makikinig siya, pero hindi ko alam kung gagawin niya yung gusto nila. Sabi lang niya, importante na makinig tayo para maintindihan natin kung saan sila nanggagaling,” he said.

He, however, dismissed speculation that the LP will be at the forefront of gathering the campaign to make it appear that there is really a strong clamor for Aquino to seek re-election.

“Hindi namin napag-uusapan ang ganyan. Hindi nga namin kilala who are the people behind this ad. Paano kami makakatulong sa signature campaign nila?” Abad said.

“But we are happy. You should treat it as an expression of how good the administration is doing. Ang sinasabi nila, maganda ang ginagawa ng administrasyon kaya dapat yung papalit sakanya ay itutuloy ang magandang ginagawa ng administrasyon,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Escudero said he was not inclined to support the call for Aquino’s re-election as it would entail amending the Constitution, which, he said, the government does not have the time and resources to do so within the remaining 22 months of Aquino’s term.

“Ang posisyon ko wala na dapat pagbabago sa Saligang Batas ngayong patapos na ang termino ni Pangulong Aquino,” Escudero said.

“Una, walang budget and referendum o plebisito para sa pagbabago ng batas sa 2015. Walang ganung budget ang Comelec. Pangalawa, isang daang milyong Pilipino na tayo, alangan namang wala ni isa sa isang daang milyong Pilipino ang kayang gumawa ng pareho o mas maganda pa ngang trabaho, mas magaling, at may malasakit din para sa ating bansa,” he added. —KBK, GMA News