‘Noynoy for president’ signature drive kicks off Wednesday
Ilonggos who want Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to run for president in next year’s elections may join the signature campaign starting Wednesday, September 2, 2009.
Atty. Daniel Cartagena, prime mover here in Iloilo of the campaign urging Noynoy to run for president, said the signature drive would be launched at Buto’t Balat Restaurant beside Amigo Hotel at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
Cartagena invited the public to come to the said place so they could sign up for Noynoy’s candidacy for president.
“Anybody could come, it is open to the public,” Cartagena said.
Cartagena added that many sectors have already signified their intention to be part of the signature campaign. He cited Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Iloilo Chapter president Atty. Marven Daquilanea who said that he would join the signature campaign.
“I think history repeats itself in this scenario. In 1986, Cory was not actually the first choice to run for president, it was Doy Laurel,” Cartagena said in an earlier interview.
“But public demand and uncontrolled circumstances twisted the situation, Cory ran for president and Laurel slide down for the vice presidency,” the lawyer added.
Liberal Party stalwarts led by LP chairman emeritus Jovito Salonga are pushing for a Mar-Noynoy tandem in 2010, with Noynoy as vice presidential running mate of Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas.
Calls for the senator to seek the presidency has grown stronger after the death of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, last August 1 and the 26th death anniversary of his father, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., on August 23.
Noynoy is already considering a possible run for the 2010 polls under the LP. He said he would be making an announcement soon.
He said three factors would influence his decision on running for president: (1) his ability to guarantee that there really will be meaningful changes for society and the country (2) availability of logistics for his electoral campaign and (3) the sentiments of his four sisters on his presidential bid.
The senator is expected to come out with his decision on September 9, which marks the end of the 40-day mourning for his mother.
A signature campaign for Noynoy’s candidacy for president has already started in Metro Manila headed by a group that convinced Mrs. Aquino to run for president in the 1986 snap elections called by then President Ferdinand Marcos.
The campaign’s prime mover is Edgardo Roces, son of newspaperman Joaquin “Chino” Roces.
Cartagena said the signature campaign for Noynoy that he will spearhead in Iloilo is his own initiative and is not connected with the signature drive being undertaken by Roces’ group.
“Anyway we have the same objective which is to convince Noynoy Aquino to run for president,” Cartagena said.