Villar should take psycho test first, says Aquino

Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III threw back at rival Manuel Villar the latter’s challenge for him to undergo a psychiatric examination.

“He was the one who issued the challenge so he should undertake the test first,” Aquino said at a press conference in the City Hall legislative building on Tuesday noon.

Aquino claimed that Villar was just after “brownie points” when he challenged all presidential candidates to undergo a psychiatric test.

The Liberal Party standard-bearer pointed out that the supposed report about his mental state was fake, but Villar kept on saying things to make the report real.

If a person continued to insist on giving credibility to a clearly fake report, his sanity could be in doubt, Aquino added.

He said it would be difficult to subject all presidential candidates to psychiatric tests because they would have to agree on how to go about it, such as identifying the psychiatrist who would be acceptable to all.

Aquino also said that an administration stalwart would be joining the Liberal Party next week but he did not identify the person.

Tomas Osmeña’s support

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña reaffirmed his party’s support for the tandem of Aquino and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

“I just want to make it very clear that the BOPK (Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan) remains in its full support of Noynoy and Mar,” Osmeña said at a press conference held at City Hall where the Liberal Party national ticket paid a visit shortly before noon.

The mayor said the BOPK supported the Aquino-Roxas tandem because the party believed that the two candidates were upright.

“We need a government that is clean. We need a government that does not have any stain on its integrity. Here in Cebu City, we have our own resources. We don’t need projects from Malacañang. We just want fair treatment,” Osmeña said.

Aquino’s campaign sortie in Cebu was the second since the start of the campaign.

Mobbed

He first appeared at a huge rally at the Cebu City Sports Center with BOPK candidates during the early days of the campaign.

Aquino’s visit to City Hall coincided with the release of the city government’s cash assistance to senior citizens in the city, so he was mobbed by the elderly and their relatives outside the building.

Roxas did not join him since the vice presidential candidate was presiding over a meeting in preparation for the elections.

The senatorial candidates, including Ralph Recto and Muntinlupa Rep. Rufino Biazon, were also present at the press conference.