ANGELES CITY – Yet another “kabalen” of Pres. Arroyo, this time her supposedly close local political ally, has openly declared support for the presidential candidacy of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.
“I will openly back the presidential candidacy of Noynoy,” Pampanga 1st district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin told Punto during a recent gathering of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) here.
This, after Gov. Eddie Panlilio formally announced in Manila last Thursday he was giving up plans to seek the presidency in next year’s polls also in favor of Aquino.
Lazatin has been known as a close ally of the President in Pampanga’s first district which covers vote-rich Angeles City.
But this time, Lazatin’s gratitude to the late former president Corazon Aquino seems to have overwhelmed political loyalties.
“I owe Pres. Cory my being in politics. And my sense of gratitude inspires me to support her son for the presidency, as I believe he is very qualified,” he said.
Earlier, Lazatin said he expected other people in the Arroyo administration, who had also played a role in the Aquino administration, would also support Noynoy’s bid.
After the burial of Mrs. Aquino at the Manila Memorial Park last Aug. 5, streamers sprouted in various parts of Angeles City and neighboring Mabalacat town declaring “Noynoy Aquino for president, now”.
Lazatin declined to comment whether he had anything to do with this.
But Lazatin stressed that while he would support Noynoy for president, he would back the candidates of his party “from the vice president down.”
LMP national president Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico said, however, that he still expected most pro-administration politicians to support whoever would be the presidential standard bearer of the Arroyo administration.
He said he was not surprised by Lazatin’s decision to support Noynoy as he noted that “Sen. Aquino is from Central Luzon and there are really politicians who revere Cory Aquino.”
The family of Noynoy hails from Tarlac whose southern part speaks the Kapampangan dialect. The hometown of his late father, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, in Concepcion, Tarlac is at the boundary with Pampanga and used to be part of the latter province.
“I will openly back the presidential candidacy of Noynoy,” Pampanga 1st district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin told Punto during a recent gathering of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) here.
This, after Gov. Eddie Panlilio formally announced in Manila last Thursday he was giving up plans to seek the presidency in next year’s polls also in favor of Aquino.
Lazatin has been known as a close ally of the President in Pampanga’s first district which covers vote-rich Angeles City.
But this time, Lazatin’s gratitude to the late former president Corazon Aquino seems to have overwhelmed political loyalties.
“I owe Pres. Cory my being in politics. And my sense of gratitude inspires me to support her son for the presidency, as I believe he is very qualified,” he said.
Earlier, Lazatin said he expected other people in the Arroyo administration, who had also played a role in the Aquino administration, would also support Noynoy’s bid.
After the burial of Mrs. Aquino at the Manila Memorial Park last Aug. 5, streamers sprouted in various parts of Angeles City and neighboring Mabalacat town declaring “Noynoy Aquino for president, now”.
Lazatin declined to comment whether he had anything to do with this.
But Lazatin stressed that while he would support Noynoy for president, he would back the candidates of his party “from the vice president down.”
LMP national president Binalonan, Pangasinan Mayor Ramon Guico said, however, that he still expected most pro-administration politicians to support whoever would be the presidential standard bearer of the Arroyo administration.
He said he was not surprised by Lazatin’s decision to support Noynoy as he noted that “Sen. Aquino is from Central Luzon and there are really politicians who revere Cory Aquino.”
The family of Noynoy hails from Tarlac whose southern part speaks the Kapampangan dialect. The hometown of his late father, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, in Concepcion, Tarlac is at the boundary with Pampanga and used to be part of the latter province.
