Noynoy Aquino still the leader in another survey

Noynoy Aquino topped another presidential survey as posted in IBON Info with this this article.

This is just one of the series of surveys from different think-thank and social weather organizations Noynoy topped in these past weeks.

To those who are saying that this is just media hype and manifestation of emotional outpour, just wait for the succeeding months and you will see the "Masquerading People Power".

Side Notes on Gov. Panlilio's Withdrawal from the Presidential Race

This is my notes about the withdrawal of Gov. Ed Panililio of his 2010 presidential bid to support Noynoy. I got this news from Yahoo! News in this page.

It's Official: Panlilio opts out of 2010 race
Philstar.com - Friday, September 4

MANILA, Philippines – Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio has formally declared his withdrawal from the 2010 presidential race.

Panlilio made the announcement this morning (Sept. 4) at the historic Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, saying he has abandoned his presidential ambition to give way to Liberal Party’s Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino.

“Nagpasya kaming hindi tumuloy sa aming planong tumakbo sa pagka-pangulo sa nalalapit na halalalan. Ibinibigay namin ang aming buong suporta at pagtitiwala kay Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III bilang kandidato sa pagka-pangulo ng ating bansa (We have decided not to push through with our plan to run as president in the coming elections. We are offering our full support and trust to Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III as our presidential candidate),” he said in a prepared speech.

With the declaration, Panlilio, a priest on leave, became the second presidential aspirant to give up his bid.

Liberal Party president Sen. Mar Roxas made the same announcement last Tuesday. - By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

I actually hope to see "UP for Noynoy" (United Presidentiables for Noynoy) to emerge in the following weeks especially on the opposition front. This may seem ambitious but for the Filipino people, nothing is impossible. I hope you are one with me in this. Convince other presidentiables to rally behind Noynoy if they are really sincere about their desire to serve the Filipino people.

Note on MBC Press Statement on the Recent PCIJ Report

This is the statement of Makati Business Club on the PCIJ Report regarding Pres. Arroyo's wealth. I got this from their website in this page.

PRESS STATEMENT
Makati Business Club Statement on the PCIJ Report on President Arroyo's Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth

14 August 2009 - We wish to commend the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism for a job well done on its three-part series on President Arroyo’s still-to-be-explained wealth. The press serves a watchdog function and, disagreeable as it may be to those who have suffered its nasty bite, we must allow the press to perform this function, without coercion or threats.

It now behooves the President to personally respond to the issues raised by the PCIJ article. It is unfortunate that instead of clarifying matters, the President has opted to call in her legal advisers who have tried to attack the message as well as the messenger rather than respond in any meaningful and germane manner.

In particular, the business community would be particularly interested in the remarkable growth of Mrs. Arroyo’s net worth during her incumbency as a government employee from 1992 to 2008, when her personal wealth increased from P6.73 million to P143.54 million, according to the PCIJ account. That equates to a compounded growth of 21.1% per annum, wherein her net worth doubled every 3.4 years. Her stock portfolio, meanwhile, grew by 41% per annum from P55 million in 2006 to P110 million in 2008, at a time when the Philippine Stock Exchange index fell by 21%.

Held against the light of economic reality and the First Couple’s declared assets and income sources, the impressive growth of Mrs. Arroyo’s wealth is difficult to fathom. Through her lawyer, the President has stated that she stands by the “truth and veracity” of her SALN, but it is difficult to accept her statement at face value if all that she has to substantiate her claim is the paltry information provided in the document and her spokespersons’ explanations that only lead to more unanswered questions.

Like Caesar’s wife, the President must be above suspicion. As the highest public servant in our country and in the interest of good governance, Mrs. Arroyo must set an example by making a full and transparent accounting of her and her family’s wealth. She owes the Filipino people an explanation.