Pangilinan withdraws VP bid, supports Aquino-Roxas tandem

MANILA - Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Sunday formally announced the withdrawal of his vice presidential bit in the 2010 elections in favor of the tandem of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

“From day one when we pushed for Senator Noynoy’s bid for the presidency, we gave our commitment to him that we were ready to step aside for the sake of unity behind his candidacy,” said Pangilinan in a statement Sunday.

“That time to set aside our personal plans and unite behind Senator Aquino’s bid for the presidency has come. We will support the Noynoy-Mar tandem,” added Pangilinan in the statement.

The senator vowed to help in the Aquino-Roxas election campaign “in whatever capacity and role the Liberal Party might give him.”

Genuine change

In announcing his withdrawal, Pangilinan also said that he would support a campaign that would call for reforms and “genuine change” for the country.

He had previously admitted that he became an inactive member of the LP due to differences of opinion with Roxas, which is why he launched an independent bid for the country's second highest post.

Before Roxas announced withdrawing from his own presidential run, Pangilinan had also asked him to give way to Aquino.

An LP official said that Aquino and Roxas are set to formally announce their tandem for the 2010 national elections on Monday.