By ELLEN TORDESILLAS
Tinatanggap ko ang hiling ng sambayanan.
Tinatanggap ko rin po ang tagubilin ng aking mga magulang.
Tinatanggap ko ang responsibilidad na ituloy ang laban para sa bayan.
Tinatanggap ko ang hamon na mamuno sa laban na ito.
Bayang Pilipinas, tatakbo ako sa pagka-pangulo sa darating na halalan.
Tutuloy po natin ang laban. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas.
So saying, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III declared Wednesday his presidential bid for the 2010 elections in a morning press conference on the 40th day of his mother’s passing at Club Filipino, the same venue where his mother, Corazon Aquino, took her oath as president on Feb. 25, 1986. (Listen to Aquino’s acceptance speech.)
Aquino praised Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II who gave up last week his presidential plans for him. He said he offered the vice presidential slot to Roxas, who has yet to decide.
Roxas, president of the Liberal Party, of which Aquino is the vice chairman, sat on the front row of the audience along with other LP stalwarts as Aquino was making his announcement.
In a casual, nonbombastic speech, he related stories of his encounters with people on the streets that made him decide to accept the challenge.
Aquino said a Customs official expressed happiness when he said he would run. Asked why, the official said, “Kasi pwede na ako ulit mangarap.”
Wearing black with the yellow ribbon pin, he was surrounded by his sisters, Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris, and yellow-class supporters, mostly belonging to what the media call “civil society.”
Girlfriend Shalani Soledad, also in black, was also present. The 29-year-old Soledad is a councilor in Valenzuela City.
On the issue of corruption asked by a reporter, Aquino said he will fight it by example. He said the country has enough laws against corruption and it’s a matter of implementing them.
He made special mention of the case of fellow senator, Antonio Trillanes IV, who is in detention after he and his fellow officers and soldiers exposed corruption in the military in the Arroyo administration. He said he did not believe that Trillanes is guilty of a crime of coup d’etat that he is accused of.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon started the “piso-piso” fund campaign for Aquino.
Aquino reminded everybody to make sure to list every contribution because they would have to report these to the Commission on Elections. This elicited laughter from the audience, who probably was reminded about the case of Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo who did not declare to the Comelec the campaign contributions he received in the 2004 and 2007 congressional elections.
Aquino’s announcement came on the 40th day following his mother’s death. Former President Aquino died on Aug. 1 and was buried after a funeral march that was attended by hundreds of thousands of mourners. The massive turnout of mourners made it clear to political observers that the Aquino magic remained strong.