By Grace Gajetes
Published: August 11, 2012
Labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno condemned Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III today for bringing his party’s candidates for the 2013 senatorial elections to relief operations around flood-stricken areas in Metro Manila, saying the president’s early campaign won’t get his candidates elected.
KMU cited photos and video footages showing the president with Akbayan spokesperson Risa Hontiveros, Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director Joel Villanueva, and Bureau of Customs chief Ruffy Biazon – all senatoriables of the Liberal Party – last Aug. 8 going around areas in Metro Manila that were devastated by floods.
“Pres. Aquino is obviously turning relief operations into campaign sorties for his senatoriables. People can easily see through this shameless use of government funds and exploitation of people’s miseries aimed at getting these people elected,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.
“These cheap gimmicks won’t boost these senatoriables’ chances of winning in the elections. Judging from reactions online, these are already backfiring on the president and his candidates,” he added.
“People need help and genuine solidarity during disasters, not pretty faces that look oh so eager to get their votes. The people won’t be duped by politicians who make so much noise condemning traditional politics but nonetheless practice this kind of politics,” he said.
KMU said the senatoriables may even suffer from being associated with the president whose popularity ratings continue to decline.
“These senatoriables may even suffer from being associated with the president, whose performance amidst the disaster is deplorable. It’s more likely that the president’s approval ratings will continue to drop,” Labog said.
“Pres. Aquino allowed oil companies to increase prices and power companies to announce a rate hike, provided an opening for call center companies to force employees to work amidst the intense rains, and blamed the poor for our misery,” he added.
“The president’s campaign sortie with the LP’s senatoriables further highlights his poor performance amidst this national disaster. This gimmick won’t help him or his senatoriables,” he said.
