LP wants to clear air of ‘Noy-Bi’ political ads

(Updated 12:29 p.m.) While it downplayed a survey result showing vice presidential bet Jejomar Binay of Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) tying Sen. Manuel Roxas II, the Liberal Party (LP) has taken steps to clear the air of "Noy-Bi" ads promoting the tandem of Sen. Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III and Binay for the May 10 polls. Before the start of a press conference in Cubao, LP staff distributed to reporters copies of Aquino's letters dated May 6 to GMA Network president Felipe Gozon and ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio where he objected to the airing of yet another "Noy-Bi" ad. "There is no such thing as a 'Noynoy Aquino-Jojo Binay' tandem contrary to what the advertisement would like to portray and hence, misleading and truthful. I believe this violates the principle of truth in advertising. The only tandem that I am a part of, and which I fully support, is the Liberal Party's 'Noynoy Aquino-Mar Roxas' ticket," Aquino said. "I object to the airing of this material. Accordingly, I would like to request for the immediate stoppage of the airing of any and all 'Noy-Bi' advertisement," added the LP standard bearer. In an interview on dzXL radio, LP campaign manager Florencio Abad said Aquino personally asked broadcast networks airing such ads to remove footage hinting Aquino wants Binay as his partner. "Kinausap na ni Sen. Aquino ang network na naglabas ng ads na yan na kung pwede alisin ang footage na yan (Aquino asked the networks airing such ads to remove those footages)," Abad said. He said Aquino was "nagtatampo" (has ill feelings) and saddened over the ads, which he said were not authorized.
"Nagtatampo diyan si Sen. Aquino. Naglabas sila ng larawan pinakita na magkasama si Sen. Aquino at Mayor Binay. Nalulungkot siya dahil di awtorisdado ilabas ang larawan na parang pinakitang pinayagan niya ang tambalang yan (Aquino has ill feelings about it and sad because the unauthorized ads made it appear he agreed to be featured with Binay as his running mate)," he said. "Matatapos ang kampanya, huwag natin tapusin na nililinlang natin ang botante (The campaign is coming to an end. Let us not finish it by fooling the people)," Abad added. On the other hand, Abad tried to downplay the latest Social Weather Stations survey showing Binay tying Roxas. [See: Binay ties Roxas; Noynoy widens lead in new SWS survey] He said Roxas' numbers did not go down, and that Binay appeared to benefit from the votes lost by Nacionalista Party vice presidential bet Lorna Regina "Loren" Legarda. "Hindi pa pasok ang effect ng (pag-endorso) ni Pastor Quiboloy at Iglesia ni Cristo. Pagpasok ng endorsement inaasahan namin lalayo muli si Sen. Roxas (The survey has not taken into consideration the endorsements for Roxas from the Iglesia ni Cristo and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Once it is factored in, Roxas can easily pull away)," he said. Meanwhile, Abad said the LP will hold its miting de avance at the Quezon Memorial Circle at 5 p.m. Friday. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV