Bam Aquino files COC for senator, says he won't be lapdog of cousin PNoy

They may come from the same clan but Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV vowed Friday that he will not be a lapdog of his cousin, President Benigno Aquino III.

 

Bam, who is seeking a Senate seat under the banner of the Liberal Party-led coalition, was accompanied by his wife Mary Fatima when he filed his certificate of candidacy before the Commission on Elections in Manila.

 

"We really vote independently of each other. When Tita Cory (Aquino) was president, and my uncle (Agapito Aquino) was a senator, they differed in different issues," he told reporters.

 

"Palagay ko po may ganung klaseng respeto po sa amin. We can differ on issues but at the end of the day, yung hangarin pareho at ang hangarin na yun ay mapabuti ang ating bayan," Bam said. Bam is the son of Paul Aquino, younger brother of martyred Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., President Aquino's father.

 

He said he wanted to help the President in implementing reforms and treading the straight path. 

 

Bam said he is just proud to be part of the clan who has two Presidents and senators under their name.

 

"Sa totoo lang sabihin sa akin, maybe 10 years down the line, na si Bam Aquino gaya ng kanyang tito, tita, ng kanyang pinsan, binigay niya ang kanyang buhay para sa kabataan, ako ay matutuwa. I will not be ashamed of that," he said. Dynasty

 

On the issue of political dyanties, Bam said the public should evaluate the track record of families in politics.

 

"Instead of looking at us as a political dynasty, we are a family that has a history of public service sa bansa na sa totoo lang po, I would be extremely proud to be part of," he said.

 

He said that the entire Aquino clan is backing up his senatorial bid. 

 

Aquino sees his close resemblance to his uncle, former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., as an advantage.

 

"Sabi nila pogi siya so ako ay flattered na sinasabing kamukha siya. He is somebody we all loved so advantage  yun," he said. 

 

Bam admitted that he volunteered to be part of the Liberal Party senatorial slate and represent the youth in Congress.

 

"Earlier in the year, kinausap ko si Presidente Noy. Sabi ko sa kanya kung naghahanap kayo ng kabataan, 35 years old, yung nagtrabaho sa mga komunidad na pwedeng isama nila sa slate ng LP, handa po ako nun," he said.

 

He said the President initially dissuaded him from running but gave in  upon seeing his determination.

 

"Sabi niya (Presidente) mahirap ang buhay na ito, handa ka ba? Sabi niya this is gonna be difficult pero  kung desidido ka at andyan sa puso mo yung paninilbihan sa bayan ipagpatuloy mo yan," he said. — RSJ, GMA News