Bam denies sinister operation to push up his ranking

PRESIDENTIAL cousin Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Wednesday denied that the Liberal Party (LP) was behind a so-called “God Save the Prince” operation to push his ranking up in pre-election surveys.

Aquino said the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) only has itself to blame after the LP-led Team PNoy coalition dominated in the recent Pulse Asia survey.

"All of us in Team PNoy are really working hard that’s why we our rankings are going up. The allegation of dumping candidates has no basis. I don’t understand why they can’t accept that working hard is a good strategy,” Aquino told reporters in a sortie in Bulacan.

UNA secretary general and campaign manager Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco earlier questioned the “extraordinary rise” of the President’s cousin in poll surveys, saying the LP now stands for “Laglagan (dumping) Party” as some of the administration bets continue to lag behind.

In the recent Pulse Asia survey, Aquino’s ranking improved from the 13th to 15th places to 4th to 9th spots. His rating rose from 31.4 percent in January to 43.2 percent in February.

Four of the Team PNoy candidates—Aurora Representative Sonny Angara, former Senators Jun Magsaysay and Jamby Madrigal, and former Akbayan party-list Representative Risa Hontiveros—meanwhile were out of the so-called Magic 12.

Aquino advised UNA to stop its mudslinging and focus on its message if it wants its candidates to catch up in the survey.

“Work hard and stay on the message because at least the Team PNoy slate has a very clear message—the reforms that we aim to strengthen. It’s really that simple,” he said, admitting the endorsement of President Aquino to the coalition has contributed a lot to the candidates.

Aquino credited his improved ranking to volunteers, and father, political strategist Paul Aquino, who is running his campaign. He previously helped in the campaign of the late former President Corazon Aquino, President Aquino, and even former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Team PNoy spokesperson Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone meanwhile laughed at UNA’s allegations saying the opposition’s imagination is “running wild”.

“We’d like to set it on record that there is no such operation. It’s the height of political intrigue which UNA specializes in,” Evardone said in a statement.

Angara, for his part, said Team PNoy is more focused on pushing him, along with the three other candidates out of the Magic 12, up in survey rankings.

“They promised us that they will push the four of us who are within striking distance,” he said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)