Noynoy swears in girlfriend, others into Liberal Party

MANILA, Philippines - The president of the League of Provinces, the girlfriend of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and actor Richard Gomez along with more than 100 local officials and candidates were the latest to be sworn into the LP.

Aquino and his running mate, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, who is also LP president, welcomed the new party members in simple ceremonies at their headquarters in Quezon City.

The president of the League of Provinces, Misamis Occidental Gov. Loreto Ocampos, was present along with the local officials and candidates of Manila, Valenzuela City, Caloocan City, Aurora, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Albay, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Compostela Valley.

Aquino’s girlfriend, Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, said she would seek reelection and likes to share the vision of the LP in putting the country above everything else.

During the picture-taking, Aquino and Soledad were teased and asked to kiss but the senator only gave his girlfriend a buzz on the cheek upon the request of cameramen and photographers. Aquino and Roxas raised her hand as well as those of the other candidates.

Gomez said he was encouraged by Aquino’s sister, actress and host Kris Yap, to join LP. He plans to run as representative of the fourth district of Leyte.

Comedian Dennis Padilla and his former wife, Marjorie Barreto, also took their oaths, separately, as new members. Both are seeking local positions in Caloocan City.

However, Padilla chose not to come out of a room in the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City to avoid crossing paths with Barreto, who came with Caloocan Mayor Recom Echiverri.

Roxas said their growing number was a sign that many would like to join the movement for change. “Conscience before ambition, principle before power, country before self,” Roxas said.