source: Cris G. Odronia, Jefferson Antiporda and Ruben D. Manahan 4th - manilatimes.net

Councilor JC de los Reyes sounded like he was not just trying to humor Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd, a fellow candidate for president in the May 2010 elections, when he told Aquino that he would win the national balloting less than four months away.

“Sen. Aquino, there is a big chance that you will be the next president, based on the surveys. I want you to succeed,” de los Reyes, the standard-bearer of Ang Kapatiran, said during a forum in Makati City (Metro Manila) on Tuesday.

After the forum, the councilor, Aquino and Sen. Jamby Madrigal, another presidential candidate in this year’s polls, signed a covenant on integrity and human rights.

Aquino seemed pleased with de los Reyes’ apparently endorsing his run for Malacañang, saying, “Thank you to Councilor JC for acknowledging that I have a chance of running the country.”

He said that his administration would protect human rights and prevent hunger.

Personally, Aquino added, he would waive his rights under the Bank Secrecy Law (Republic Act 1405) to set an example in his watch and in the interest of transparency.

A few days before, he seemed highly pessimistic that he would not make it to Malacañang, saying that groups were out to stop him from winning.

Senatorial candidates of the ruling party, Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD), also on Tuesday berated him for making the statement.

Reelectionist Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. said that survey results would not guarantee victory in the May polls, apparently referring to Aquino topping opinion polls since he announced his bid for president.

Revilla added that the statement was unfair to the Commission on Elections, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, religious groups, non-government organizations and media that are exerting efforts to make the May 10 voting peaceful and credible.

His fellow senatorial bet and broadcaster Rey Langit described Aquino’s statement as “baseless.”

Another ruling-party reelectionist, Sen. Lito Lapid, advised the LP standard-bearer to press charges against government officials whom Aquino had accused of harassing his election campaign donors.

The administration party’s presidential candidate might be lagging behind Aquino in the surveys but, according to a political analyst, all that would change with the start next month of the campaign for local-government posts.

Alexander Magno cited Lakas-Kampi CMD being able to field local candidates almost nationwide, an achievement that he said would work in favor of former Defense chief Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, the party’s standard-bearer, in the homestretch.

Like Aquino, transparency will be a rule under his leadership, Bangon Pilipinas presidential candidate Bro. Eddie Villanueva said also on Tuesday.

In a statement, Villanueva vowed to implement a “radical” action plan in weeding out corruption in all levels of the bureaucracy if he is elected president.

His administration, he said, would not allow government officials to invoke “executive privilege” in evading legislative and judicial investigation and scrutiny in cases involving national and public interest.