For Aquino, it’s about ‘integrity,’ ‘sincerity’

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

For President Aquino, “integrity” and “sincerity” are among the qualities the administration’s standard-bearer in next year’s elections should possess, Malacañang said on Sunday.

That is, in addition to the candidate’s “capability and commitment to sustain the President’s good governance reforms, as well as his daang matuwid, or righteous path crusade,” Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

Responding to a question by the Inquirer about the Nationalist People’s Coalition or NPC’s plan to field Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero as its presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively, Coloma said Aquino had yet to finish “consultations” with the Liberal Party (LP) and its allies, among others.

Interviewed over state-run Radyo ng Bayan’s weekly “Pilipinas, Pilipinas” public affairs program, Coloma reiterated that the President will announce his candidate after his State of the Nation address on July 27.

“Mainam na hintayin na lang po natin ang magiging opisyal na pahayag ng Pangulo hinggil sa bagay na ito (It is better if we wait for the President’s official statement regarding this matter),” said Coloma, also head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

During his visit to Iloilo City last week for the commemoration of Independence Day, Aquino gave no indications whom he would endorse for President.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, an LP stalwart, said the President’s endorsement was reserved for a party member.

He told a radio interview that Aquino “would not endorse a candidate who is not from the Liberal Party.”

LP members sneered at Vice President Jejomar Binay’s expectation of getting the President’s nod, with Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice saying that Aquino was not thinking of endorsing Binay, “not even in his dreams.”