Team PNoy bets free to hold own campaign

SANTA CRUZ, Laguna, Philippines  â€“President Aquino is not compelling pro-administration senatorial candidates to attend campaign sorties of Team PNoy.

Sen. Franklin Drilon, Team PNoy campaign manager, wants the 12 candidates to attend the rallies that they have organized, along with local Liberal Party leaders.

Aquino said the pro-administration senatorial candidates have a free hand on how they will manage their campaign strategy.

“Well, of course each of them has their own needs as a national candidate,” he said.

“There are places where they may be strong, there are also areas where they may be weak. So it’s up to their own political strategy.”

Aquino said the freedom to campaign freely has been the agreement with the pro-administration candidates from the start of the campaign in mid-February.

“Of course, if you’re a candidate yourself you would want to maximize the opportunity by which you can get the people’s votes,” he said.

“So they will be working double time in certain areas they think they need reinforcement.”

Pro-administration candidates can go where they want and it would be up to them to join him in rallies, Aquino said.

Yesterday, only former senator Jamby Madrigal, former lawmaker Risa Hontiveros and Sen. Loren Legarda attended the rally in Sta. Cruz, Laguna where Aquino endorsed the gubernatorial candidacy of Edgar San Luis.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez urged President Aquino yesterday to police the ranks of the Liberal Party following reports that some of its local candidates have engaged in massive bribery to prop up their electoral campaign.