Show of unity for Team PNoy bets

President Benigno Aquino lll. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III’s senatorial slate put up a final show of unity amid persistent reports of discord among its top candidates at a final campaign meeting that wound up the 90-day campaign Friday night.

“Just three more nights to go and it will be time to vote,” Team PNoy campaign manager Sen. Franklin Drilon told the crowd that gathered for the coalition ticket’s “miting de avance” at the Amoranto Stadium in Quezon City.

“When we wake up on Monday, it will be Team PNoy that will win,” he added, expressing confidence that the administration would take almost all seats in the Senate race after the elections on Monday.

Drilon, however, was more realistic when interviewed along the sidelines of the final rally.

“The real survey happens on Monday. Let’s see what happens then,” Drilon told reporters.

The surveys indicate that nine Team PNoy bets will win as against only three from the rival United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Drilon said President Aquino wants all of the 12 Team PNoy candidates from four political parties and a party-list group to win in order for the administration to realize its legislative agenda of good governance and inclusive economic growth.

“We went to 37 provinces and held almost 100 rallies,” Drilon said of the coalition’s campaign sorties in the past three months.

“The President attended 46 out of 96 or 97 sorties,’ he added.

Bam Aquino, President Aquino’s cousin, expressed his debt of gratitude to the Chief Executive for campaigning for all of them “despite having coughing fits during the hustings.”