‘Elect leaders, not script readers’

NAGA CITY, Philippines – Two years ahead of the 2016 elections, President Aquino called on the people to stop voting for candidates who are only good at reading scripts.

“Our challenge: Choose candidates who can fight (for the) interest of the people in the face of any challenge. We don’t need those who are only good at reading scripts, dancing or singing,” he said during yesterday’s celebration of the 116th anniversary of the Philippine Independence, which was held here for the first time.

“It is our responsibility to make the country more just and progressive than it was in the past,” he added.

Speculations are rife that among those eyeing the vice presidency are former showbiz personalities Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, who have been charged with plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam.

Palace insiders said Aquino would announce his choice for the presidential elections in November this year.

Some say it was the deadline given for the rating of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to increase.

Malacañang earlier said Aquino’s endorsement would be “lethal” to the political opposition.

“Whoever the President will endorse… the power of the President’s endorsement is lethal. It is effective and that’s the reason why... whoever the President would anoint, would certainly have an advantage,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda has said.

“If you look at 2016, there may be a number of reasons why people are trying to degrade the approval rating of the President. That’s understandable for those who are not in his camp,” he added.

While Lacierda has repeatedly claimed he is not a member of the ruling Liberal Party, he served as its spokesman in the May 2010 presidential elections.

Lacierda is a friend and is allied with the Balay camp of Roxas, LP president on leave.

He maintained that critics and detractors have been trying very hard to vilify Aquino because he continues to enjoy high popularity ratings – the longest so far for a sitting chief executive.

“We have been on the path of tuwid na daan (straight path). We have been on the path of good governance. The President’s approval ratings have been unprecedented. Way past midterm, his numbers are still in the 70s,” he pointed out.