Sin’s blessing of Roco ‘pastoral’ — Palace

Malacañang downplayed yesterday a report that presidential candidate Raul Roco has received the blessing of retired archbishop of Manila Jaime Cardinal Sin.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Sin offers his blessings to everyone who visits him at Villa San Miguel, the Archbishop’s Palace in Mandaluyong City.

"We all know that Cardinal Sin wishes well to everybody, and to all of those who visit him," he said in Filipino.

Reports said Sin told Roco, "I hope you win," when the presidential aspirant visited the retired prelate last Saturday.

However, Roco said the statement of Sin was a pastoral blessing, and not an endorsement.

Bunye said President Arroyo will rely on her performance during her three years in office to win the presidential elections on May 10.

"The President will continue her governance and pushing for projects that would benefit our citizens," he said.

Mrs. Arroyo is confident that her accomplishments will get her the support she needs in the elections, he added.

Meanwhile, Roco topped a mock election among students of Jose Rizal University (JRU) in Mandaluyong last Feb. 4, Roco’s Alyansa ng Pag-asa said yesterday.

The statement said the voting results in the mock polls as relayed by the staff of the JRU’s law school are: Roco, 986; Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 503; Panfilo Lacson, 472; Fernando Poe Jr., 439; Eddie Villanueva, 90; and undecided, 386. — Marvin Sy