INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

Oreta to concede all 'Aquino' votes to Noynoy Aquino

Inquirer

Cynthia Balana

TAGBILARAN CITY – Team Unity senatorial candidate Tessie Aquino-Oreta now wants all “Aquino” votes in the coming May senatorial elections to be counted in favor of her nephew, Tarlac Rep. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Oreta made the decision after learning that Noynoy said he would ask the Commission on Elections to consider all “Aquino” votes as his.

Oreta said she would no longer contest Noynoy's wish except if the ballots would contain the name “Tessie or Teresa Aquino.”

“I told him that if you are referring to me, then I will no longer contest it. So stand alone Aquino kasi talaga namang kanya iyon dahil apelyido niya yun eh, hindi pareho ko kalahating Aquino na lang ako ngayon kasi mayroon akong married name [If it’s stand alone Aquino, that’s his because it’s his surname, unlike my name which is just half Aquino because I have a married name],” Oreta told reporters during a campaign sortie here of the entire 12-member team Unity candidates.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang decision ng Comelec basta kung pupunta siya sa Comelec at ako ang cause ng pagpunta, huwag na, huwag ka na magpunta hindi kita because I will not contest it. Basically that’s the end. Kasi puwede na yun alang-alang na lang kay Ninoy,” she said, referring to her brother and Noynoy's father, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. [I don’t know what the decision of Comelec would be. But he should not bother going to Comelec because of my name because I will not contest Aquino votes being counted as his ... This is for Ninoy.]

But Oreta said that in the end, Comelec would decide on the matter as another Aquino -- Teodoro Aquino -- whom Oreta said was not related to them, was also running for senator.

Oreta said her only disadvantage in this case was the Comelec's use of Teresa Aquino on the official list of senatorial candidates displayed in polling stations.

“Comelec always put my name on the list as as Oreta, Teresa when I am more known as Tessie Aquino-Oreta,” she said.

Oreta said that she and Noynoy last talked when the so-called Third Force was still being formed as an alternative to the opposition and administration candidates early this year.

At that time, she said, Noynoy came to her house and ate before going to the Senate to join a press conference on the supposed formation of a middle force.

On the poor showing of the administration candidates in recent surveys of senatorial preferences, Oreta said that surveys were not the only gauge of whether a candidate would win or not.

“The survey results encouraged me to work harder. We just have to work harder. We still have two months to go. A lot of things can happen, a lot of other points will come in. But bottomline, we have to work,” she said.

Oreta said that based on her experience as a former local executive in Malabon, most people would vote for candidates in the national elections endorsed by local executives.

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