Bacolod folk hold signature drive for Noynoy, too

Aside from the signature drive in the province of Iloilo to convince Sen. Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III to run for president in 2010, another one was launched earlier in Bacolod City. Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported that more than 300 signatures have been gathered since the drive was launched at a local mall Tuesday afternoon. Organizers of the drive, dubbed "Tuloy pNOY, Noynoy for President," said they had expected Sen. Manuel Roxas II to give way to Aquino to be the standard bearer of the Liberal Party in the 2010 presidential polls. [See story: After yielding to Nonoy, Mar open to VP posts or reelection] Convener Joel Dojillo said the drive started when a friend of Bacolod businessman Cris Torres, who is close to the Aquinos, asked him to organize the movement in Bacolod. The Tuloy pNOY group had placed a drum near Aquino's house in Quezon City to accommodate messages for Aquino to run for president. On Wednesday, the group started a fund drive for Aquino's presidential bid. Iloilo City signature drive Earlier in the day, GMANews.TV reported that a similar signature campaign would be launched in Iloilo City. Iloilo-based news site The News Today reported that lawyer Daniel Cartagena will launch the drive at Buto’t Balat Restaurant at 3 p.m. "Anybody could come, it is open to the public," Cartagena said, adding many sectors have already signified their intention to be part of the signature campaign. He cited Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Iloilo Chapter president Marven Daquilanea as among those who would join the signature campaign. Cartagena noted that LP stalwarts led by chairman emeritus Jovito Salonga are pushing for a tandem of Roxas and and Aquino in 2010. Several groups have egged Sen. Aquino to run for president since the death of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino, last Aug. 1; and the 26th death anniversary of his father, former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Sen. Aquino is expected to come out with his decision on September 9, which marks the end of the 40-day mourning for his mother. The Iloilo City and Bacolod City signature campaigns are separate from a similar drive in Metro Manila headed by Edgardo Roces, son of newspaperman Joaquin “Chino" Roces. - GMANews.TV