Roco forces back Noynoy for president

MANILA - The political party of the late Senator Raul Roco is supporting calls for Senator Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III to run for president in the May 2010 elections.

In a press conference on Monday, Aksyon Demokratiko officials announced they have decided to back the growing Noynoy for president movement, which emerged after the death of the late President Corazon Aquino last August 1.

"The same question remains, we ask, as to who is the leader we want to carry the cudgels for our aspirations and hopes as a people. Aksyon has an answer: Who? Senator Noynoy Aquino," said Roco's widow, Sonia.

Aksyon Demokratiko has a strong following among the youth and in the Bicol region, where the late senator came from.

Hermie Aquino, a former vice-presidential candiate of Aksyon Demokratiko, said they will only urge Noynoy to run for president, not for any other position.

"The decision of the group is just to endorse Noynoy to run for president, nothing else," Aquino said. "It's president or nothing."

The Aksyon Demokratiko will also help gather 1 million signatures to convince Noynoy to run for president. The signature drive was initiated by Edgard Roces, son of the late newspaper publisher Chino Roces, who started the Cory Aquino for president movement back in 1985.

Inquirer columnist Conrado de Quiros, who is advocating "Noypi," or Noynoy for President Initiative, is also supporting Aksyon Demokratiko's call for Noynoy to run for president.

Noynoy still undecided

But Aquino, a member of the Liberal Party (LP), has not made up his mind on whether to run for president.

Liberal Party party leaders were mum on the outcome of the weekend meetings between Noynoy and Senator Mar Roxas, LP's presidential aspirant.

The meetings were aimed at resolving issues within the party on who should be chosen as LP standard-bearer for the 2010 elections.
 
Aquino only said he will seek spiritual guidance as he gets closer to making a decision about his political plans.

On Sunday, Noynoy's siblings discussed the appeals made by some sectors for Noynoy to run.
 
Noynoy confirmed that his sister Viel is the only one left among his siblings who is having second thoughts about allowing him to run next year.

More groups are supporting Aquino in 2010, but the lawmaker said he would rather wait than make a hasty decision that could affect the future of filipinos. -- report from Maricar Bautista, ABS-CBN News