LP denies pirating UNA bets, says exec

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr.

MANILA, Philippines — The administration isn’t pirating potential senatorial candidates from the United Nationalist Alliance as alleged by former President Joseph Estrada, a Liberal Party stalwart in President Benigno Aquino III’s Cabinet said on Saturday.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Aquino’s campaign manager in 2010, said the administration didn’t need to entice politicians away from the UNA because “the administration in power naturally
attracts candidates.”

“That is farthest from the truth,” Abad told the Philippine Daily Inquirer when asked about Estrada’s tirade against the administration now in the middle of working out a potentially powerhouse slate made up of members from the LP, its historial rival Nacionalista Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

“The administration is not pirating candidates and has no need to do so.  Historically and by political logic, in a mid-term election, the administration in power naturally attracts candidates.  Moreso for the Aquino administration which is enjoying unprecedented approval and support,” he added.

Abad said the Aquino regime was enjoying overwhelming support both from the Filipino people and the international community, “because of its achievements in fighting corruption and promoting good governance, in expanding social services, especially in education, health and social protection and growing the economy and attraticing tourists and investments.”

“The renewed optimism and sense of hope that these developments have generated expectedly translate into greater political support from our people,” Abad said.