Liberal Party: Aquino has no secret candidate

The Liberal Party-led “Daang Matuwid” coalition is confident that President Benigno Aquino III is true to his word—that he will support only administration candidate Mar Roxas.

The coalition spokesperson was unfazed by the alleged gathering of supporters for presidential hopeful Sen. Grace Poe arranged by Rico Puno, saying the former interior undersecretary was no longer a part of the administration.

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“He’s no longer a member of the administration. He has not been for a long time,” said Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez in an interview at the LP headquarters.

“If he talks to anyone, he’s doing so in his personal capacity. Hindi ko alam kung may ibang taong kumontrata sa kanya para makapag-usap pero kung ganon man, hindi ito ang ating Pangulo.”

Inquirer sources said Puno, through his aide, had been asking members of the Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines in Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao to organize political rallies for Roxas’ rival.

“He’s not speaking for the Liberal Party. He’s not speaking for Secretary Mar, and certainly he’s not speaking for the President in this case,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said Aquino’s statements, the most recent being in his engagement in the US, were “very, very clear” that he had no secret candidate and would support only Roxas in the national elections.

“Kilala naman nating lahat ang ating Presidente. Hindi ito ang isang tao na will mince words. Hindi ito isang tao na hindi derecho magsalita,” Gutierrez said.

Puno, a known shooting-range buddy of Aquino, has been identified with the “Samar” group that supported Vice President Jejomar Binay as then Senator Aquino’s running mate in the 2010 elections instead of Roxas.

The spokesperson clarified that not all those in the Aquino administration were members of Liberal Party.

Since Puno is out of the administration, he is free to support whoever he wants, according to Gutierrez.

“They’re free to try and convince na lumipat yung mga ibang tao, pero we remain confident na ’yung mga supporters namin from yung mga local leaders sa iba’t ibang mga probinsya hanggang doon sa mga national leaders na affiliated with the administration, sobrang solid ‘yung suporta,” Gutierrez said.

“The administration is solid. The Daang Matuwid coalition is solid. And it is solidly behind Secretary Mar and Congresswoman Leni Robredo.” RC