PNoy warns vs. 'fake' admin allies, takes swipe at Revilla

(Updated 8:38 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III used a Liberal Party event in Cavite province on Thursday to take a swipe at politicians who he said are just pretending to be allies of the administration, a report on “24 Oras” said. "Paalala lamang po, asahan na po ninyong may mga nagpapanggap at may mga nakikisakay diumano sa ating krusada. May mga nakikisuot ng kulay dilaw pero hindi tiyak kung anong kulay ang nasa loobin,” he said in his speech without giving names. At one point, the president even said the electorate should not take their chances on “agimat” or “anting-anting (amulets)” — a statement that could be construed as referring to Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and his family. “Huwag po tayong umasa sa tsamba o sa agimat o anting-anting," Aquino said. Aquino gave the speech days after the opposition party Lakas-CMD said it is eyeing Revilla, an actor known in some of his popular movies as “Agimat,” as its standard bearer in the 2016 presidential election. Cavite is a known bailiwick of the Revilla political clan. Revilla's father, Ramon Revilla Sr., is a former actor and senator popularly known for his movies about amulets. His wife, Lani Mercado, is the incumbent congresswoman of Cavite's second district while his son, Jolo Revilla, is running for vice governor in the May elections. The “24 Oras” report by Theresa Andrada said Sen. Revilla did not directly comment on Aquino's statement. Instead he greeted the president for his birthday on February 8 and thanked him for visiting Cavite. "Happy birthday, Mr. President. Thank you for taking time to visit our province. I salute you in your efforts to promote understanding, peace and unity in the country. Mabuhay ka, Mr. President. May God bless you," Revilla said in a short statement. Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, the spokesman for the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) coalition, meanwhile dared Aquino to name names. "Para maliwanag na rin sa botante, kung ang sinasabi ng LP ay gusto nila maliwanag sa botante, kung sino kakampi ng pangulo at sino ang hindi at sila naman ay may pananaw kung sino ang nagpapanggap," he told Andrada in the report. — KBK, GMA News