Philippine Daily Inquirer

Say no to dynasty, Kris told

- Jocelyn R. Uy

OH NO, not another Aquino.

A Catholic priest yesterday said President Aquino’s youngest sister Kris should forget about her supposed plan to seek an elective post in 2016 out of “delicadeza” (sense of propriety).

Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippine­s (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, said that instead of going into politics, the TV personalit­y should set an example by not perpetuati­ng a political dynasty.

“Without prejudging her intentions and capability, I believe simple delicadeza dictates that the family carrying the surname that was catapulted into power by a political revolution should set an example by not perpetuati­ng themselves in power,” said Castro, who serves the Diocese of Tarlac, the province of the Aquino family.

Castro was reacting to a recent pronouncem­ent by Kris Aquino that she planned to run for governor of Tarlac in 2016.

“[Given their family history], they should be the first ones not to create a political dynasty,” the priest told reporters in an interview yesterday.

Kris Aquino appeared to have made her announceme­nt in response to former CBCP president Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz’s call that she clarify whether or not she had plans to enter politics in 2016.

Cruz had said that the reports he received from “credible sources within the administra­tion” were to the effect that Kris planned to run for vice president.

In settling for the governorsh­ip of Tarlac, Kris said she had no plans of seeking a national post just yet since she had no track record to speak of.

Cruz said that if Kris were to pursue her political plans, she had a big chance of winning.

“She’s an actress and Filipino voters in general love actors, like Lito Lapid,” he said, referring to the action star now senator, a silent fixture in the Senate.

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