Peping: Some Noynoy people want me out

Some individuals around President-elect Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III want his uncle Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco out of the "circle." In an interview with radio dzBB Tuesday, Cojuangco said the issue regarding the supposed "Kamag-anak Inc." — a phrase referring to close friends and relatives who reportedly influence government policy — was being revived to ease him out. "They want me out of the way kaya marami na silang nilalabas laban sa akin (that’s why they are raising issues against me)," he said. The term "Kamag-anak Inc." was coined by critics of then President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, referring to her relatives who were allegedly meddling in government affairs and using their connections to advance their interests. "Nung panahon ni Cory…lumabas na it was the people around Cory that started the story (on Kamag-anak Inc.) na gusto palang masolo si Cory, na hindi kami makaistorbo. And I feel it is the same thing now, hindi nila alam na yung mga nakapaligid ke Noynoy e gusto i-eliminate ako, lalo na ako," Cojuangco said. (During Cory’s time, it emerged that people around her started the story about Kamag-anak Inc. so that they could have her to herself. I feel that it is the same thing now. The people don’t know that people around Noynoy want to have me out of the loop.) He added those people were wary of him because they know that he would challenge their wrong decisions. He admitted that the President elect’s relatives could not really keep quiet or distance themselves from the incoming administration because they were among those who pushed for the former’s candidacy. "I feel that kami na kamag anak nila, we owe it to Ninoy (former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.) and Cory to take care of them because ito namang nangyari kay Cory it's not for their family, it's for the country," said Cojuangco. The former Tarlac congressman pointed out that none of those who pushed for Aquino’s presidential bid asked for anything in return but he wants them to be recognized. "What about these people that joined the (campaign) para mailagay, mailuklok si Noynoy, who will now recognize them?" he said. On another issue, Cojuangco denied that he pushed for the "Noy-Bi tandem" of Aquino and outgoing Makati mayor and Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay, although he admitted that he is closer with the Binay than Aquino’s runningmate, Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II. "As far as Noy-Bi (issue is concerned), hindi tutuo yun. Ako ay Noy-Mar," he said. He said his closeness with Binay started in 1978 when Aquino's father, the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., who was then incarcerated, asked him to form a group, later known as Lakas ng Bayan (Laban), that would campaign for the latter who was allowed to join the elections for Interim Batasang Pambansa. "One of the key people there was Jojo Binay. He was one of the lawyers that really helped me out all throughout that campaign…naging tuloy tuloy na ang samahan namin niyan and we became very, very close," he said. - RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV