Former President Fidel Ramos has endorsed the candidacy of one of ex-President Joseph Estrada’s senatorial candidates—the son and namesake of former Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr.
Ramos raised the hand of Jose “Joey” de Venecia III after a forum on Philippine and German cooperation organized by the Hans Seidel Foundation in Makati City.
“Matino, matapang, magaling at matuwid (Upright, courageous, competent and straight),” Ramos said when asked why he was supporting the candidacy of the son of his most loyal ally in Congress during his administration.
Joey de Venecia thanked Ramos for his endorsement.
“I’m sad that I’m not part of the original (Lakas-Christian and Muslim Democrats) party but my view is that I’m honored to be part of the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino,” the younger De Venecia said.
The PMP is the party which carried Estrada to victory against Joey’s father in 1998. The elder De Venecia was Ramos’ handpicked presidential candidate under the Lakas party which they founded in 1992.
Joey de Venecia said that, while remaining loyal to Estrada’s PMP, he’d like to be part of Lakas “if the internal squabbling gets all arranged and maybe if Kampi splits already.”
Lakas-CMD merged with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s party, the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), in a move that the elder De Venecia, the former Lakas president, is questioning before the Supreme Court.
Speaker De Venecia was ousted from the party presidency after his son exposed the involvement of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo in the allegedly overpriced ZTE-NBN contract.
In a press statement, Joey de Venecia said he was both humbled and challenged by Ramos’ endorsement.
“President Ramos is the epitome of a true statesman, and I will work relentlessly to meet his expectations and those of the rest of our countrymen if I’m elected to the 15th Senate,” the senatorial candidate said.
De Venecia is the second senatorial candidate endorsed by Ramos, who had earlier backed the candidacy of Raul Lambino of Lakas-Kampi.
No comments:
Post a Comment