MANILA, Philippines ? Leading presidential bet Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said he would release detained General Danny Lim should he win in the May elections.
Aquino said Lim's incarceration was one of the biggest acts of injustice by the Arroyo administration, which he wanted to correct.
Lim, who was implicated in an alleged military plot to withdraw support from the Arroyo administration in February 2006 and who took part in the Manila Peninsula takeover, is running for senator under the Liberal Party.
Aquino presided over the country's oldest political party's renewed bid to return to power and relevance by leading members to an oath "to never, never steal."
At the well attended 64th anniversary of the Liberal Party at Club Filipino, Aquino reiterated that his decision to run was prompted by the people's clamor for change after 10 years under a corruption-riddled administration.
A recurring theme among the speakers was the party's stand against corruption and how it abhorred leaders who have used their power and influence for their own gain.
"Partido Liberal noon at ngayon marangal (Then and Now, Liberal Party is Honorable)" and "Hinding, hindi kami magnanakaw (We will never steal)" were the mantras in Tuesday's event.
Senator Manuel ?Mar? Roxas hammered on this point further by declaring "walang mahirap kung walang corrupt (there is no poor when there is no corruption)" while taking a dig at Senator Manny Villar who was embroiled in the C-5 road controversy.
There was an awkward moment during the presentation of the LP?s history when former Senate President Franklin Drilon acknowledged one of its revered members, former President Diosdado Macapagal, as having left Malacañang without enriching himself.
"Hindi po nagnakaw si Diosdado Macapagal. Huwag na lang tanungin ang ibang kamag-anak ni Diosdado Macapagal," said Drilon, referring to his daughter incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who was placed alongside Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada as among what the party considered as the rogue presidents of the country.
The LP candidates also showed that they knew how to have fun when they chimed in on Noel Cabangon's catchy tune "Pagkat Ako?y Isang Mabuting Pilipino."
