PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has clarified that he has no intention of running for any position in next year's elections just like what his predecessors did.
Aquino said he was making this clear after news report came out that he indicated of seeking for another elective post.
"Can I just clarify? I have no intentions of running for any position. Nasa newscaps ko kanina kasi 'yon—that I hinted I might run (in 2016)," the President said Thursday during an interview with the Philippine media who joined him on his four-state visit to Japan.
"The phrase, I think, that you should pay attention to is: 'my nephews and nieces might decide to change their names.' Okay? So I just want that clear," he said.
Aquino's predecessors, former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph Estrada, both ran for local posts after assuming the presidency.
Arroyo, who is under hospital arrest for plunder charge, is a second termer congresswoman of Pampanga, while Estrada is the mayor of the city of Manila.
At the same time, Aquino wondered why the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) was already "overreacting" especially against the perceived opponents of Vice President Jejomar Binay, their presidential candidate in 2016 polls.
Instead of engaging in black propaganda, the President said that as a citizen, he urged everyone to bring the debate to a more intelligent level.
"We, for instance, (in the) LP (Liberal Party) have a dream. We move our politics beyond personalities and to issues. Also, 'yung, 'di ba, parang each party takes a stand on a particular issue and win the votes on that matter," Aquino said.
"Parang when you elect this particular party, you expect this system of governance, you expect this type of decision-making and so on and so forth. At this early, when it’s, in a sense, parang black propaganda that is at the forefront, the appeal is—especially for those who are younger than us—can we not help them change the system to something better and bring the debate to a more intelligent and studied level."
UNA interim president and Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco has questioned the qualifications, particularly the residency issue and nationality, of Senator Grace Poe if she would run for president or vice president.
He raised the matter after Poe declined the offer of Vice President Jejomar Binay, UNA's presidential bet, to be his running mate.
"I won't describe na lang the particular method. But I guess the better question is: 'Why are you so overreacting?" Aquino said.
Aquino earlier admitted that he talked with Poe regarding the 2016 polls.
But he did not say if he offered her to run for president or vice president.
The President said he did not want to make a comment specifically on the exchanges of words between Poe and Tiangco.
"Toby Tiangco didn’t authorize me to be their spokesperson. I have not applied with Grace Poe to become her spokesperson. Tapos 'yung sa akin parang ayoko namang parang nagbabangkaan lang tayo na hulaan tayo dito at diyan," he said. (SDR/Sunnex)