Kris Aquino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines –Florencio “Bem” Noel’s mayoralty bid got a boost from President Benigno Aquino III’s youngest sister and popular TV host, Kris, who declared that the mayoralty contest here was already “game over.”
“Kabilin-bilinan ni PNoy, gawin ko raw ang lahat para masigurado na ikaw na ang magiging mayor ng Tacloban City. Kaya hiningi ko ang kanyang vest dahil nakaabot po sa akin na yung kalaban ni mayor Bem, kung anu-ano raw pong paninira ang ginagawa sa akin at kay Senator Chiz,” Kris said over the weekend before a cheering crowd at the Leyte Sports Complex. (PNoy specifically requested me to do everything I can to make sure that you will become the mayor of Tacloban City. So I asked for his vest because I learned that Mayor Bem’s rival has been saying things against me and Senator Chiz)
Chiz is re-electionist Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who was also on stage along with another senatorial bet, former MTRCB chairperson Grace Poe and other local candidates. PNoy on the other hand is the moniker of the President.
“Of course I don’t like that and I’m sure you don’t also like that. That’s why I’m standing by this: Game over! Bem will be the next mayor of Tacloban,” she said in Filipino.
Noel is running against incumbent mayor Alfred Romualdez.
Before going to this city, Ms Aquino said the President texted and reminded her that Noel was his friend and a loyal ally.
“Binilin po ni PNoy,sinabi nya: Uy Kristina kaibigan ko yan, loyal na ally kaya sabihin mo sa lahat sa kanila, pag nanalo si mayor Bem, isang tawag lang, kung ano ang kailangan ng Tacloban, ibibigay ,” Kris said.
(PNoy specifically requested and told me: Hey, Kristina. He’s my friend, my loyal ally. So tell everyone there that if mayor Bem wins, I will give whatever Tacloban needs in just one call)
Kris also took the opportunity to also endorse the senatorial bids of Escudero, Poe and her cousin, Bam (Benigno Aquino IV) Aquino, who are all running under Team PNoy.
In his speech, Escudero also endorsed the candidacy of Bam Aquino despite his absence at the campaign rally and thanked the TV host for supporting them.
“Taos puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa kanyang tulong at paniniwala sa aking kandidatura gayundin sa kandidatura ng nag iisang mayor dito sa Tacloban,” said Escudero.
Escudero and Poe were also joined by Kris Aquino when they campaigned in General Santos City and Davao City Thursday and in Cebu Friday.