Noynoy, Mar begin talks for 2010 elections

Who will reign and who will give way? Senators Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III and Manuel “Mar" Roxas II have begun talks in relation to the 2010 elections. Among the issues being discussed by the two are the Liberal Party (LP)’s plan for the polls and the people’s pulse about their candidacies, GMA News’ Flash Report said Saturday night. The report quoted Aquino and Roxas as saying that their dialogue was a proof that politics won’t affect their relationship. Roxas is LP president, while Aquino is the party’s executive vice president. Noynoy's father, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and Mar's father, Gerardo "Gerry" Roxas both belonged to LP. Roxas will abide by LP’s decision on its choice for standard-bearer. But the senator also said that he is already resolved to push through with his presidential bid. LP stalwarts led by former Senate president Jovito Salonga and party chairman Franklin Drilon favor a Mar-Noynoy tandem, with Aquino as Roxas’ vice presidential running mate.

However, calls for Noynoy to run for president have grown stronger after the death of former President Corazon Aquino and the 26th death anniversary of Ninoy on August 23. Noynoy’s mother succumbed to colon cancer last August 1. The senator’s father was assassinated in 1983 after returning from a three-year exile in the United States. Noynoy says he is mulling on three options: to either run for president, vice president, or not run at all. Earlier, Cory and Ninoy’s only son said three factors would influence his decision on running for president: (1) his ability to guarantee that there really will be meaningful changes for society and the country (2) availability of logistics for his electoral campaign and (3) the sentiments of his four sisters on his presidential bid. - GMANews.TV