Cory Aquino

Benigno Aquino, the front-runner in the race to succeed Philippines President Gloria Arroyo, formally registered his candidacy in the May 2010 election on Saturday with a pledge to fight corruption, witnesses said. Aquino, a senator and the son of the late democracy icon and former president Corazon Aquino, filed his registration papers at the Commission on Elections office here. More than an thousand supporters, like him clad in yellow, held a festive rally outside, an AFP photographer saw. Aquino, 51, wants to effect "transformational change" after nine years of rule by Arroyo, an estranged former political ally of his family. "Its legitimacy is under ... Read Full Story

MANILA (Reuters) - The son of Philippines democracy icon Corazon "Cory" Aquino continued to lead candidates for the 2010 presidential election, an opinion poll said on Monday. The release of the latest public opinion survey came on the same day Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino was formally nominated by the small Liberal Party (LP) as its standard-bearer for next May's national and local elections. The poll by the independent Pulse Asia showed Noynoy was preferred by 44 percent of respondents. Senator Manuel Villar, a billionaire property developer who topped the August 2009 polls, was second with 19 percent. Senator Francis Escudero, who has dropped out ... Read Full Story

The son of Philippine democracy champion Corazon Aquino is an overwhelming favourite to win next next year's presidential election, according to a national survey released on Monday. Senator Benigno Aquino attracted 44 percent support in a poll of preferred presidents, with millionaire property developer Manny Villar a distant second with 19 percent, polling and research company PulseAsia said. The survey of 1,800 respondents around the country was taken in late October, and was the first by PulseAsia since Aquino announced his presidential run in September. In a worrying development for President Gloria Arroyo's ruling coalition, its candidate, Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, attracted just two ... Read Full Story

The son of late Philippine president Corazon Aquino called Wednesday for another round of "people power" as he announced he would run for president to continue his mother's work. Vowing to fight against corruption that pervades the impoverished Southeast Asian nation, Benigno Aquino said he would be a leader for all sectors of society and not just the rich. "I will be there because of the people, I will stay there because of the people and hopefully I will be true to my word to serve the people," Aquino, 49, told a crowd of cheering supporters as he declared his presidential bid. Aquino made ... Read Full Story

The Philippines' ruling coalition on Wednesday named Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro as its candidate for next year's presidential election, setting up an intriguing showdown against his cousin. The announcement by the Lakas-Kampi-CMD coalition effectively rules out opposition fears that President Gloria Arroyo would cling to power beyond her six-year term next year. It also means Teodoro will go up against his second cousin, Benigno Aquino, the senator son of late democracy icon Corazon "Cory" Aquino, who will represent the opposition Liberal Party in the May polls. "In the event that (Aquino) and I would be the ones to face off, the people can expect ... Read Full Story