Ang Ladlad endorses Noynoy, Binay

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - The "Ang Ladlad" party-list group formally launched on Wednesday "NOYBI 2010".

The group is supporting the tandem of Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) vice-presidential bet Makati City Mayor Jejomar "Jojo" Binay.

Ang Ladlad chair Danton Remoto referred to Aquino as the "Mr. Clean of Philippine politics," while Binay is regarded as the "dark horse" in 2010 who, they said, will pull a surprise in the May 10 polls.

Many were surprised by the group's decision since they've been known to be allies of the Liberal Party.

Remoto was a consultant of LP vice presidential bet Sen. Mar Roxas for two years.

Remoto harbors no ill feelings against the senator, but expressed that some people in Roxas' campaign team failed to make good their promise to help Ang Ladlad with their campaign funds for the party-list elections.

"They are slow like turtles," Remoto said, which is why they opted to support Binay, Roxas' rival candidate, who had agreed to help them financially.

For better or worse

LP campaign manager Butch Abad clarified that they did not promise anything to the Ang Ladlad.

He said that they would not want a quid pro quo, but instead prefer to help each other for better or worse.

"Mas maigi kung magkaka-tulungan. Ayaw din namin ng quid pro quo. Maganda kung magkasama tayo sa hirap at ginhawa," Abad said.

Just the same, Abad thanked the group for endorsing Aquino. He had hoped that the group would carry the entire LP slate.

The NOYBI launch may just be another reason to cause further tension between Senators Francis Escudero and Roxas.

Remoto confirmed they will support whoever Escudero will endorse. Escudero had earlier expressed his support for Aquino and Binay for president and vice-president, respectively.

Binay's new ad

Yesterday, ABS-CBN got a copy of a political ad conceptualized and produced by Escudero himself and Bibeth Orteza, endorsing Binay as Escudero's vice-presidential bet.

Escudero introduced Binay as someone who came from a poor family, not an "ilustrado," and a genuine member of the opposition.

Sources said Binay's new ad will be shown a few days after Escudero's political ad endorsing Aquino hits the airwaves. This early, Escudero and Roxas are viewed to be the top contenders for the presidency in 2016.

The LP camp, meantime, is undaunted by Escudero's endorsement of Binay.

Abad earlier said that Sen. Roxas is secure in his standing, being the front-runner in the vice-presidential race.

Ang Ladlad is the national organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Filipinos.

-www.abs-cbnnews.com