VISAYAS SUPPORTERS ECSTATIC FOR SEN. NOYNOY AQUINO

Sen. Noynoy Aquino during a Press Conference

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - Supporters of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in the Visayas were ecstatic over his decision to run for president and will begin recruiting volunteers who ensure he will have grassroots machinery in the 2010 presidential campaign.

Liberal Party leaders in Iloilo and Capiz have also started to rally behind an Aquino-Roxas tandem for 2010, saying that Senator Mar Roxas, who gave up his presidential aspiration to give way to Aquino, is the best bet to be his running mate.The LP leaders declared their support for Aquino and the mostly like tandem with Roxas even as Roxas said he would leave the matter entirely to Aquino to decide whom he would choose as his runningmate.

Roxas, speaking to LP leaders Tuesday night, said the next year''s elections will not be a struggle between the administration and the opposition but “between good and evil.”

In an emotional speech to his partymates delivered mostly in Hiligaynon, Roxas explained his decision to give way to Aquino and rallied the party members to unite behind Aquino.

“It was a painful decision but I feel no bitterness. I know this is best for the country,” Roxas said to the repeated applause of his partymates.

Among those that declared their support for an Aquino-Roxas tandem were Governors Niel Tupas Sr. of Iloilo and Victor Tanco of Capiz.

Mayor Raul Tupas of Barotac Viejo town in Iloilo, president of the provincial chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, said mayors belonging to their party will also support an Aquino-Roxas tandem.

Lawyer Dan Cartagena of the Noynoy Aquino for President Movement-Iloilo welcomed Aquino's declaration of his decision to run for president.

He said the volunteers that have initiated a signature campaign urging Aquino to run for president will now become coordinators in towns and barangays.

“This is just the start and we hope to turn this into a nationwide campaign,” Cartagena told the Inquirer in a telephone interview on Wednesday.

Acknowledging Aquino’s lack of financial resources to mount a presidential campaign, Cartagena said they will put up donation boxes and sell pins and shirts to generate funds.

“For now, we will shell out from our pockets to spend for our campaign but hopefully the donations will come in,” he said.

In Cebu, support for Aquino have also started pouring in after he announced his bid for the presidency.

Cebu businessman Norie Homecillo, who chairs the “Tuloy pNoy Cebu,” said he got calls from several personalities including politicians pledging support for the movement that is backing a Nonoy Aquino presidential bid.

“Tuloy pNoy Cebu” was launched last week as a signature campaign to urge Aquino to run for president

Homecillo said they have gathered almost 5,000 signatures, which were forwarded to Aquino last Tuesday. According to Homecillo, among of those who wanted to join their movement is Georgia Osmeña, the sister of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Homecillo claimed the family of former congressman Celestino Martinez in Cebu’s fourth district also indicated they would support Aquino.

Lawyer Democrito Barcenas, Homecillo’s co-convenor, said they would not start to strengthen the political machinery of Noynoy in Cebu. He said they have tapped the different sectors including the academe to get massive support for Noynoy.“We are happy that Noynoy accepted the challenge,” he said.Negros Occidental Representative Mark Cojuangco, reacting to the announcement of his cousin, , said more choices would always be better for the people. But he said in his own personal opinion was that LP “does not have a monopoly on good intentions, honesty and competence.”He said the Nationalist People’s Coalition, of which he is a member, has its own good ideology for the betterment of the country based on reality.

The NPC leading contenders, Senators Loren Legarda and Chiz Ecudero, are currently discussing among themselves who will run as standard bearer of the party and an announcement will be made in due time, he said. With a report from Carla Gomez, PDI [By Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Jhunnex Napallacan, Philippine Daily Inquirer, First Posted 20:36:00 09/09/2009]