Arroyo party endorses Aquino cousin for Senate

MANILA -- Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the political party of former president and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, endorsed Wednesday Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV's Senate bid due to his father's good rapport with the party.

Bam Aquino, who runs under the Liberal Party's Team PNoy, is a cousin of President Benigno Aquino III, the successor and political opponent of Arroyo.

Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, vice-chairman of Lakas-CMD, said they will carry Bam Aquino "because his father is a good friend."

Bam Aquino's father, who is also part of Team PNoy, is the son of Paul, the younger brother of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, father of President Aquino.

"He seems to be a credible future senator if he will win," Suarez said.

Aside from Aquino, Lakas-CMD will also support the candidacy of Zambales Representative Ma. Milagros "Mitos" Magsaysay and Cagayan Representative Jack Enrile of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), and of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero, a guest candidate of UNA and Team PNoy.

"(We will support Jack because of his father (Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile) and because he's a colleague in the House. Also Chiz," Suarez said.

Magsaysay is a member of Lakas-CMD until she transferred to Vice President Jejomar Binay's PDP-Laban to run under UNA, which is a coalition of PDP-Laban and former President Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).

Suarez, meanwhile, admitted that President Aquino's presence in campaign rallies of the Team PNoy slate would be an advantage over UNA.

"Admittedly, it will be a big help. It's a factor that you have the President with you in campaign sorties. If he's in political rallies, for sure, they are assured of a big crowd to listen to their candidates," he said.

But Suarez said that his "fearless forecast" would be that UNA would win most of the Senate seats in the May elections.

Results of the most recent Social Weather Stations survey show that UNA candidates grabbed most of the slots in the so-called "Magic 12." (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)