'Poll-topping Noynoy now a victim of character assassination'

Being on top also has its downside. This is what the Liberal Party (LP) has learned after its standard-bearer, Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III topped the surveys. Aquino, the only son of former President Corazon Aquino and martyred senator, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino is now the subject of various "character assassinations," according to his vice presidential runningmate, Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II. "Bagamat maganda ang mga numerong nakita natin ngayon (We may be leading in the surveys but) this is not going to be an easy fight," said Roxas on Thursday during an oath-taking event at the LP headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City. Aquino led in the October survey conduced by the Social Weather Stations. The respondents said they wanted Aquino to become the successor of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. (See: Noynoy, Villar preferred in 2010 elections) Roxas claimed that their opponents, particularly from the administration party, would try everything to destroy Aquino's credibility. “Gagawin nila ang lahat para mapatid si Noynoy dahil sa lahat ng tumatayong pangpresidente, si Noynoy langnag hindi nila makakausap (They will do everything for Aquino to fail because he is the only presidential aspirant who will never enter into a compromise deal)," Roxas said. Aquino himself acknowledged that he is now a victim of character assassination amid reports linking him to the alleged anomalies in the construction of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), which traverses Hacienda Luisita, owned by Noynoy's family. In a move to weaken his candidacy, Aquino said his political enemies are also now resurrecting issues that led to the November 2004 massacre of seven farm workers of the hacienda. Aquino is also being criticized for his alleged non-participation in the hearing of the ethics complaint against presidential aspirant, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. Noynoy dismissed the criticisms, saying these were all fabricated. “Lahat ng kuwentong kutsero inilalabas na nila para sirain ako," the senator said. “Pinilipit ito ng mga naiingit pero sa palagay ko mas guwapo ako sa kanila (Envious people insist on their claims against me, but I think I'm more good-looking than them)," he added in jest, eliciting laughter from those who attended the oath-taking ceremony. He said his opponents were desperate in trying to cloud the issues but “the only thing they can come out with are half truths and outright lies." The senator said records would show that he had nothing to do with the SCTEX project as it was initiated during the Estrada administration. Roxas took the cudgels for Aquino, saying the claims were all part of a black propaganda. “Tinimbang sila at kilala na sila ng ating mga kababayan. Ngayon, dumating itong si Noynoy, tinimbang din ng ating mga kababayan at nagustuhan nila. Kung hindi na nila mapagusto ang ang mga kababayan sa kanila, eh di sisiraan na lang nila ‘yung produktong iba," Roxas said. (The people already know who they are. When Noynoy came, he was also weighed and liked by the people. They should criticize others if they could no longer convince the people to side with them.) - GMANews.TV