‘With his stubborn ways, Noy may lose endorsement power’

An ally of President Aquino who served as his campaign manager in the 2010 elections yesterday warned he could lose his endorsement value at the end of his term if he continues his stubborn ways.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III aired his frustration over the refusal of the President to heed advice or respond to criticisms from his allies, particularly in appointing several persons as part of his Cabinet or to other government offices.

“That’s the way he (Aquino) solves things, he stays with the people he appointed,” Osmeña said during a press briefing at the Senate yesterday.

Osmeña, who is identified with the administration but is a member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), said he remains independent and would not hesitate to criticize the President whenever necessary.

“I tend to be a very independent person, I’ve been helping P- Noy, I was his campaign manager in 2010. But when he’s wrong, I criticize also. So I like to keep my independence because I feel my duty to my people, I can serve them better by being independent, by not covering up things. If it’s wrong, it’s wrong,” he said.

Osmeña was exasperated over what he said were problems in the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in recent months.

He has called for the removal of Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla because of his supposed failure to prevent the spike in prices at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market last year, which led to Meralco imposing higher rates on their customers.

Osmeña also criticized the bidding process undertaken by the DOTC for the expansion project of the Mactan airport in Cebu.

Asked if he had any regrets about working to get the President into office, Osmeña said he still wants Aquino to do well until the end of his term.

“I felt that he was the best candidate at that time. Even now, I want him to do well, I want him to do better,” he said.

“But sometimes he’s so hardheaded and you know how hardheaded he can be. So what can we do. Ang tigas ng ulo, eh (He’s so stubborn).”

Osmeña said the stubbornness of the President could affect his endorsement value in the next elections.

The sitting presidents traditionally endorse their anointed successors, the value of which depends on how popular they are at the end of their terms.

“Well, we cannot do anything and we’re not going to overthrow him or whatnot. However, he will lose his endorsement, much of his endorsement value in 2016,” Osmeña said.

“You have to ascribe a certain amount of value to an endorsement by a sitting president even if he is the outgoing president and he will lose much of that if people will see that yeah, we appreciate what you did, your honesty inspired many people and brought in more foreign investments, but it all depends who he endorses,” he added.