Kris Aquino mulls mayoral, gubernatorial post in 2016

Kris Aquino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Popular TV host Kris Aquino said she is considering a mayoralty or gubernatorial post in Tarlac in case she decides to run for public office in 2016.

But President Benigno Aquino’s youngest sister said she would have to get her family’s nod first and obtain a master’s degree in public administration before joining politics.

“If ever papasukin ko (join politics)… not national right away. I want a local position. I want to be an executive whether a mayor or a governor,” Kris said at a press conference here on Friday along with re-electionist Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and former MTRCB chairperson Grace Poe.

“Kaya lang may problema ako. Sa Makati ako nakatira so hindi ko matitibag ang mga Binay doon kaya kailangan kong maghanap ng city sa Metro Manila na pwede kong lipatan para pwede akong maging mayor (But I have a problem. I am resident of Makati and I can’t beat the Binays so I have to find another city in Metro Manila where I can run for mayor),” she said.

Kris noted that the family of Vice President Jejomar Binay has been serving the people of Makati since the time of her mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.

“Hindi ko sila matatalo , hindi ko kaya promise (I can’t beat them. I really can’t, promise),” she said of the Binays.

“Pero iyong sa Tarlac possible kasi last term na nitong 2013 ni Governor Vic Yap so binibigay naman niya sa akin kung gusto ko raw. Tingnan natin (But it’s possible in Tarlac because it’s the last term of Governor Vic Yap this 2013 so he’s giving it to me if I want it. Let us see),” she added.

But lest she be accused of just riding in the popularity of the President or her parents – Kris said she would like to study first so she would have credentials.

“I want to have credentials. I don’t want to present myself just as the sister of PNoy (the President’s nickname), the daughter of Cory and Ninoy, or Kris as the movie and TV personality. Gusto ko naman talaga na may maiaambag akong maganda para sa bayan (I really want to be able to contribute something good for the country). So I have to prepare for that,” she added.

Ninoy is the martyred former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.