Vote of confidence for Pnoy

May 16, 2013
It appears that the results of the Senate race in the May 13 elections in the Philippines was a vote of confidence for President Benigno S. Aquino III. As of the latest count, nine of 12 candidates of Team Pnoy, Aquino’s Liberal Party-led coalition, will win and, by the time this issue comes out, are already proclaimed. Many of the administration candidates in the House of Representatives, mostly reelectionists, were also clear winners.
The victory of the President’s candidates indicated that the administration will effectively control both chambers of Congress. In the Upper Chamber, the Senate, the results would also pave the way for the election of an administration ally as Senate President, replacing Senator Juan Ponce Enrile. The Senate leader maybe either Senator Franklin Drilon, who had served as Senate President already, newly elected Senator Cynthia Villar or Senator Sergio Osmena. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte may also be reelected as leader of the House of Representatives again as he led the victory of all his five other congressional candidates in Quezon City.
Much of the success of the administration candidates could be credited to the President himself who campaigned personally with them in many parts of the country, declaring that the election was a referendum of his administration and the right path of governance and the fight against corruption. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda expounded this when he said: “As the counting is completed and the official proclamations take place, it seems clear that our countrymen have spoken overwhelmingly to confirm and expand the mandate for reform and change that they first granted in 2010 to President Aquino.” Lacierda added the strong showing of Team Pnoy “is a renewed mandate for tuwid na daan, and a vote of confidence for good governance, the continuity of reforms, and a brighter future to come.”
The Filipino people may have taken the President’s words and promises seriously again, resulting in the big win and control for his team of Congress. With three more years into his term, it should be a tall order for President Aquino and his allies to accomplish what they have promised in the elections as the very people who supported them, especially the poor masses who are hopeful that they could be taken out of the quagmire of poverty and lack of job opportunities, Let’s hope for the best for these new leaders and the administration.