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SOME CEBUANO businessmen are wary about Sen. Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III being the president of the country.
? I think he is not a strong economic leader although we can still give him the benefit of the doubt since once you become a president, you'll have economic consultants who will guide your decisions,? Rey Calooy, chairman of the Filipino-Cebuano Business Club, Inc.
He said he had not seen or heard Aquino managing his own business or exposed to the business world.
Aquino?s lack of exposure in the business sector may lead to reluctance to the businessman's point of view, said Calooy.
He said Sen. Mar Roxas was a more viable candidate than Aquino since the former was an economist and had exposures to investments.
?I also see Manny (Villar) as a strong economic leader because he is a businessman himself founding his own businesses at a micro business level.?
Eric Casas, a furniture export manufacturer, said the business sector welcomes any market confidence booster.
He said that Aquino, like his parents, had all the ideal traits of a public official. ?We just hope whoever it will be in the end of the day, all the needed economic reforms will be made so as to propel our businesses and economy.?
Ernesto Abines of Philexport said businessmen had no previous interaction with Aquino.
He said they could only hope that Aquino would be a good economic manager. ?Our export industry badly needs effective government support.?
Philip Tan of Wellmade Motors said that Aquino may just make a difference.
?I'm just hoping for the best and hoping that he will get his influence from his parents (former president Cory Aquino and former senator Benigno Aquino Jr.).?
In the meantime, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes pledged his support for the Noynoy-Mar Roxas tandem in the presidential elections in 2010.
Consultant on special projects Edmund Sanchez, who also sit as Liberal Party Cebu 6th district chairman, said he would leave it to the Mayor to decide if he would shift his allegiance to another party.
Cortes is a member of the Lakas-CMD party.
Sanchez ran but lost as provincial board member under the LP in 2007.
?We will have a non-traditional campaign, but as of now, there is no definite plans or activities,? Sanchez added. ?Some of our leaders including Bogo Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. and wife Clavel are in Manila to meet with LP National officials. I am just waiting for Martinez' feedback.?
Provincial Board Member Jose Ma. Gastardo said that Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay would be Aquino?s running mate in 2010.
He said he would not too agreeable with Roxas if selected as vice presidential candidate due to his past involvement with the present administration.
Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez said it was still too early to say who among the presidential aspirants he would support in 2010.
Sanchez was appointed by former president Aquino as provincial board member after the People Power I in 1986.
He said Cory Aquino played an important role in his political career.
But Sanchez said that his ?debt? to the former president was not enough reason for him to support her son for president.
?I know that Noynoy has the integrity, sincerity and the honesty needed of a president, but I personally feel he needs to muster the courage to fight corruption which the number problem of our country today.?
Sanchez said the president sould have ?courage?, something which he did not see much in Noynoy.
?I would like to see the other presidential candidates,? he said.
Sanchez said he didn?t discount the possibility that he may end up supporting the presidential candidate whom the One Cebu party would support.
Sanchez is vice president of the local party where governor Gwen Garcia is president.
?Wala koy problema ana ug mo tow the line pud ko (I don?t have a problem because I would tow the party line),? he said.
