Noynoy, Mar pay respects to slain bodyguard

Noynoy, Mar pay respects to slain bodyguard


abs-cbnNEWS.com

Posted at 05/14/2010 7:47 PM
Updated as of 05/14/2010 7:47 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Leading presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and his runningmate Mar Roxas answered several issues during their visit to Tarlac to pay their last respects to the bodyguard of one of their party mates who was killed in an ambush in Cavite.



Aquino and Roxas visited the wake of Col. Arnulfo Orbillos, the bodyguard of former Cavite Rep. Plaridel Abaya. Orbillos was killed in an ambush as the group was on its way to the St. Michael City Homes Elementary School in Bacoor.



Both candidates vowed to seek justice for Orbillos.



The 2 then went to a nearby chapel for a press conference. The first issue that was raised was about Aquino’s unwillingness to take his oath under President Arroyo’s appointed Chief Justice Renato Corona.



Aquino explained this is based on tradition. He stressed that there is no requirement in the Constitution as to whom he would take his oath as the new president.



He added that the president-elect can be sworn into office by any notary public. He prefers a barangay captain in Tarlac instead of Corona, he said.



On the issue of the close fight between Roxas and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay for the vice presidential race, Aquino is confident his tandem will win.



As of Friday, Binay leads the partial results of the Commission on Election for vice president with 12,921,315 votes as against Roxas’ 12,072,145.



Roxas, for his part, again denied Binay’s allegations about his group’s special operations against his rival.



Roxas also commented on the statement of Binay that Aquino would sleep soundly at night if the mayor was his vice president.



He said if Binay is already not true to his tandem, former president Joseph Estrada, what more to Aquino.



Sen. Aquino’s first 100 days was also discussed during the press conference. The son of the late President Corazon Aquino and Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino said he would fight corruption as he had promised during his campaign.



He told the media that a research team is now going over the credentials of his Cabinet prospects. He, however, did not divulge any names.



After the press conference, the 2 proceeded to Hacienda Luisita and would return to Manila Friday night. Report from Gretchen Malalad, ABS-CBN News