Political news , opinions and views for 2010 Presidential election

January 19, 2010

Kin of presidential bets should behave, says party-list rep

By Leila Salaverria (Philippine Daily Inquirer) Jan 19, 2010)

MANILA, Philippines—If there's a lesson to be learned from the whole drama surrounding television host and actress Kris Aquino's marriage, it is that candidates for president should tell their kin to behave, according to a party-list representative.

Kabataan Representative Raymond Palatino said all aspirants for public office should realize that it is not only them but their relatives who are in the public eye, and the line is thin, if not non-existent, between their private and public activities.

“This is a lesson for all politicians, especially those running during the elections that they should talk to their relatives and families that they should think twice about everything they would do. This is because any action, whether good or bad or right or wrong, would be associated with the candidate,” Palatino told reporters.

In the case of Aquino, whose brother Senator Benigno Aquino III is the standard bearer of the Liberal Party (LP), her confrontation with the woman who was constantly calling her husband was a public matter, according to Palatino.

He said that as an actress and the daughter of a former president, she should know that her activities would be associated with her relatives who are in politics.

A relative of Mayen Austria, the woman whom Aquino confronted, had indicated that they would not vote for the TV host's brother anymore because of what happened.

Palatino is allied with the left-leaning militants, whose two members are running under the Nacionalista Party.

But Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros, who is a senatorial candidate of Senator Aquino's LP, said the younger Aquino's privacy should be respected.

Hontiveros said people should not meddle in matters between spouses concerning their marriage, and politics not be mixed into the issue.

What should be the focus is the actual candidate's performance, she said.

“What is fair game is the attitude and track record of Aquino and the other presidentiables,” she told reporters.

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