Noy back on campaign trail

MANILA, Philippines - Back on the campaign trail yesterday, President Aquino said candidates should not rely on “magic” to win elections.

“We do not rely on PNoy magic, we depend on the people... I always say my ‘bosses’ will take care of me, I lean on them,” Aquino said in an ambush interview during his meeting with local leaders at the Quirino Elementary School in Quezon City.

The President said the public would decide who should win the elections.

Aquino was asked if he is confident that P-Noy magic, like the so-called Cory magic of his late mother former President Corazon Aquino, helped in securing the endorsement of the block voting Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for at least seven senatorial bets of the administration coalition.

Earlier reports said the INC would support a 7-5 senatorial slate in favor of Team PNoy.

The administration candidates the INC is reportedly endorsing are Juan Edgardo Angara, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Alan Peter Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Antonio Trillanes IV and Cynthia Villar.

The five United Nationalist Alliance candidates are Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor Ejercito Estrada, Jack Enrile, Richard Gordon and Gregorio Honasan.

In introducing the President during the rally yesterday, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the President failed to join the political rallies of administration bets the past few days because he had flu-like symptoms.

Aquino, meanwhile, said that even though he was sick, he was working to ensure that Monday’s elections would be peaceful and honest.

He laughed off speculations that with the Luzon-wide blackouts on Wednesday, the administration was out to postpone or derail the elections.

Meanwhile, Sen. Franklin Drilon said the administration would work until the last minute for the victory of Team PNoy.

Drilon, campaign manager of Team PNoy, noted that their candidates are making their final push through advertisements on television, radio, newspapers and social media.–  With Marvin Sy