Aquino’s senatorial team in full force at proclamation rally

MANILA, Philippines — Another history unfolded on Tuesday at the historic Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila with the proclamation rally held here for Team PNoy.

President Benigno Aquino III and all 12  senatorial candidates of Team PNoy were in full force at the rally, including the three candidates who were adopted as guest candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

The three guest candidates are Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Loren Legarda, and  former MTRCB chairperson Grace Poe.

Poe sent her son and cousin Sheryl Cruz to the proclamation rally of UNA in Cebu while  Escudero said he did not send any representative.

Escudero declined to explain why he did not send a proxy to the UNA  rally, saying he would just leave it to the UNA people to comment on the issue.

“Para di na maigting pa yung intriga (This would prevent intrigues),” he told reporters as he denied
having any conflict with Vice President Jejomar Binay, one of the leaders of UNA.

“Hindi  porket kampanyahan kelangan ng mag-away (Not because it’s campaign period we have to fight),” he said.

The other nine candidates present at the proclamation rally were Senate Minority Alan Peter Cayetano, former Senator Ramon Magsaysay, former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar,  Senators Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Aurora Representative Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, former Senator Jamby Madrigal, Paolo “Bam” Aquino, and former Akbayan Risa Hontiveros.

Prominent personalities – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Senators Franklin Drilon and Manny Villar, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, Albay Governor Joey Salceda and other officials of the Liberal Party – also showed up at the event.