PNoy to Miriam: Why choose Bongbong as running mate?

TAGBILARAN CITY - President Benigno Aquino III slammed Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago for choosing Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as her running mate in the May presidential elections.

At a campaign rally here of the Liberal Party (LP)-led Daang Matuwid coalition on Wednesday, Aquino said he is puzzled as to why Santiago, a judge during the Martial Law era, is running with Senator Marcos, the son and namesake of the late strongman, Ferdinand Marcos.

"Ikumpara ko lang ho sa isang kalaban niya, 'yung isang kalaban po niya panahon ng Martial Law, human rights lawyer. Ngayon po na tumatakbong presidente, kinukuha 'yung anak ‘nung diktador nung Martial Law, napapag-isip ka," Aquino said.

Santiago is one of the opponents of administration candidate Manuel "Mar" Roxas II in the May presidential race.

Meanwhile, in a text message, Santiago’s media relations officer Arveen Patria said their camp will no longer comment on Aquino’s tirade as the issue has already been addressed by the senator in a previous interview.

“Senator Santiago has answered that question before. Our office will not issue a new statement,” Patria said.

In an interview with reporters in October last year, Santiago said it was not her job to defend the younger Marcos from criticisms about martial law.

"It is not my function to defend Marcos. He should defend himself. Otherwise, I will withdraw from our coalition,” Santiago said, adding that she had weighed her decision to team up with Marcos Jr. “very carefully.”

For his part, Marcos Jr. likewise refused to comment on Aquino's new statement.

"Mas maganda kung si Senator Miriam nalang ang tanungin ninyo. Mas nakaalam siya paano sagutin 'yan. I do not want to pre-empt her on what she will say," Marcos told reporters at the sidelines of his campaign sortie in Laguna.

PNoy hits Binay-Gringo tandem, too

Aquino also scored Vice President Jejomar Binay for running with Senator Gringo Honasan. Binay and Honasan are running under the banner of the United Nationalist Alliance.

"Sunod po diyan ‘yung tinatawag na 'claim to fame.' Ipinagtanggol ang demokrasya laban sa mga nagkudeta nung panahon ng nanay ko at ngayon ang tumatakbong kasama niya ‘yung nagplano ng kudeta noon," he said.

Honasan led unsuccessful military coup attempts during the term of President Aquino's mother, the late President Corazon Aquino.

"Ako itatanong ko lang ho sa kanya, kung sakaling magkita kami ulit: 'Kuya, saan mo ba kami dadalhin?' Hindi ba lehitimong tanong 'yun?" Aquino said.

The President then endorsed the candidacies of Roxas and his running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, to the crowd of Boholanos.

"So ang matinding pakiusap po, ngayon pa ba? Ngayon pa ba tayong pipigil kung saan ang taas na ng pag-uumpisahan na natin kaysa ikumpara nung tayo’y nag-umpisa nu'ng 2010?"

"Lahat nang nangyari sa atin kumbaga sa kainan ang tawag po nila appetizer pa lang ‘yan dahil bibilis nang bibilis 'yung ating pag-asenso basta nagkakaisa tayo, mamili tayo ng tama," he said. — with Elizabeth Marcelo/RSJ/KG, GMA News