JPE son not backing out of senatorial race

MANILA, Philippines - The congressman-son of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said yesterday he is not backing out as a senatorial candidate in the May elections.

“I wish to inform everybody that I have not withdrawn nor contemplated on the idea of withdrawing from the May 2013 senatorial race,” said Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr., whose father and namesake is engaged in a nasty word war with his Senate critics.

“It has come to my attention that some misguided minds have been poisoning the social media through tweets and misleading news about my so-called withdrawal. This is simply not true. I have no reason to withdraw when the race has not even started,” he said.

“Again, let it be said that there is simply no truth to the rumor. What is true is that I have stepped up my resolve to see this electoral exercise to its very end – win or lose,” he said.

The younger Enrile is a senatorial candidate of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance, of which the elder Enrile is one of its leaders.

Rumors about his supposed withdrawal were apparently fueled by the bitter feud of his 89-year-old father with his Senate critics. – Jess Diaz, Jose Rodel Clapano