KBL's Acosta still serious about presidential ambitions

Vetellano Acosta remains serious about his presidential ambitions even though his running mate has refused to support him. Acosta, the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party’s standard bearer, told GMA News’ Julius Segovia on Friday that he has been coordinating with the KBL party continuously. Sickness and his profession as an international financial consultant have also kept him busy, Acosta said in a Balitanghali report on QTV on Friday. But his running mate – KBL vice presidential candidate Jay Sonza – has repeatedly expressed he is not supporting Acosta. "Unang una di ko kilala yung tao. (First of all, I don’t know him from Adam.) I don't know him from Adam. I don't even have any reference of his curriculum vitae. He refused to provide me with information about himself. How could I endorse somebody who refused to be known by the people?" said Sonza. According to Sonza, Acosta had approached KBL when he was declared a nuisance candidate, but now that he is the KBL’s standard bearer, he has not shown even a shadow of himself. "If he has gotten the goat of the party leadership, then that's a different story. Remember, this is a political party, there are rules to be followed." Acosta has been elusive, unlike the other presidential candidates who have been painting the town red – or orange, green, or yellow, as the case may be – since the official campaign period began on Tuesday. Although Acosta is not used to being interviewed, he sat down with Julius Segovia and emphasized that he remains serious about running for president. He even showed photos he plans to use in his campaign materials, which have yet to be printed. However, Acosta has declined invitations to debates. "Wala akong time para magdebate diyan, unang una eh bago lang po akong gumaling, nagkasakit ako. At useless naman kung magdebate diyan, ano bang pagdedebatehan natin?" said Acosta. (I have no time to participate in debates. First of all, I had recently recuperated from my sickness. And it’s useless to engage in debates. What will we debate about?) No one asked me to run for president, he added. He is also not worried that he has yet to kickoff his campaign, or that he rates less than one per cent in surveys. Acosta has a pending case for disqualification filed against him by Liberal Party Presidential bet Noynoy Aquino, who has been against Acosta's candidacy from the start. Aquino is suspicious that Acosta has been planted by his rivals. Acosta displaces Aquino from the top of the ballot. - Carmela Lapeña/RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV