Noy to attend LP campaign kickoff

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino will join the Liberal Party’s campaign kickoff in Capiz and Iloilo on Tuesday, Malacañang announced yesterday as it advised voters to scrutinize the candidates in the May general elections.

The three-month campaign period officially starts on Feb. 9.

“Maybe what we can say is that everyone should follow the debates and programs on radio and television as well as read newspapers to find out the platform and character of the candidates,” Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III said over dzRB.

Quezon said the campaign season is important for the voters because they would be the ones to choose come elections.

He said this would be the time to evaluate the issues thrown at the candidates.

Quezon assured the public that government resources would not be used for partisan or political purposes as the President campaigns for administration candidates.

Asked to comment on the use of government money during the campaign, Quezon said, “I think we should be aware of one thing – that the presidency is not like a vest or hat that you can remove and wear again. The President is the president wherever he goes and whatever he does.”

Aquino is cautious on spending government money and would not waste resources on things that are not of public interest, Quezon said.  

“In other words, you can be sure that public funds are not going to be used for partisan or political purposes of the administration party,” he said. – With Eva Visperas