Palace on political ads: It’s a free country

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang does not have a hand in the recent political advertisements pushing President Aquino to run for another term, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said yesterday.

Coloma said political ads, like those involving other possible presidential candidates, were part of free speech.

“Of course, the people have the right to express their opinions, their sentiments,” Coloma said.

Asked if Aquino would consider a second term once eight million signatures were gathered, Coloma said the President had made known his position many times – that he would listen to his bosses, the people, on how to make reforms in the country permanent.

Coloma said Aquino had also told the people that everyone has a stake in nation building and that true transformation should not depend on one man.

He said “spontaneous expressions of people’s sentiments” could not be controlled and would not be stopped by the administration.

Coloma said these expressions of sentiments must be allowed in a democracy.

The Movement for Reform, Continuity and Momentum (More2come) cited the achievements of the President in seeking a second term for him.

“Popular support for this move, which we feel is already there, can be harnessed through a signature campaign to gather (eight) million signatures asking him to run again,” the advertisement read.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II had also denied yesterday any knowledge about the advertisement calling for the second term for President Aquino after a Charter change via constituent assembly.

Roxas said the ads could be an initiative by some groups that believe in the leadership of the President and his Tuwid na Daan.

“I don’t have any knowledge about it. It’s an individual initiative. I don’t know anything about it,” Roxas told reporters.

He has been vocal in pushing for the second term for Aquino, although he has been touted as the possible LP standard bearer in the 2016 presidential elections.

In a recent popularity survey, Roxas’ approval rating improved while his rival Vice President Jejomar Binay’s ratings dropped.

Roxas said he doesn’t mind the result of the survey as he maintained his focus is on his task at the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“I don’t mind that survey, because I focus on my job on disaster preparedness, bottom up budgeting, stopping corruption and reforming the police,” Roxas added.

Leaders of new group bared

The new and apparently well-funded group that is pushing for a second term for President Aquino through political Charter change is led by Ricojudge Janvier “RJ” Echiverri, national president of the Liga ng mga Barangay and eldest son of Caloocan City Rep. Enrico Echiverri of the Liberal Party (LP).

Also named as convenor of More2come was Melvin Matibag, a former general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority.

The group came out with the full-page ads in various national broadsheets that cost anywhere from P150,000 to P230,000 per page, saying it is only Aquino who could continue to lead the country owing to “the barrenness of talent and virtue among the presidential bets.”

“The More2come calls upon every Filipino, both young and old, living in the city or the countryside, white or blue collar workers, men and women to say; Ako Ang Boss Mo at Ang gusto ko Isa Pa (I am your Boss and I want One More)!” the group said in a statement sent to media.

It said Filipinos should “command” Aquino “to consider leading the Philippines through the storm.”

In its full-page ad, More2come called for the convening of a constituent assembly of Congress to amend the political provisions of the Constitution to lift term limits and allow Aquino to seek a second term.

It said the ongoing legislative process in the House of Representatives to ease economic restrictions in the Constitution should now include political amendments.

The younger Echiverri ran and lost to then Caloocan City Rep. Oscar Malapitan in 2010. He ran for mayor in the city against Malapitan in May 2013 but again lost.

He ran for barangay chairman in Caloocan City the following October and won. As president of the association of barangay chairmen of the city, he became a member of the city council. He also ran and won as head of the nationwide Liga. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy