President Aquino urges other presidential candidates to unite against Duterte

Liberal Party (LP) chairman President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III delivers his speech during the Meeting with Local Leaders and the Community at Parañaque City Redemptorist Road Brgy. Baclaran Parañaque City Friday (May 06, 2016). (Photo: Joseph Vidal/ Malacañang Photo Bureau)

MANILA – President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday called on four other presidential candidates to join together to defeat survey front-runner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

President Aquino said Duterte has only roughly about 30 percent of the votes and does not make up majority of the votes.

“Therefore, it behooves everybody to try and get together and ensure that instead of thinking about what shall we do if everything he says is exactly what he intends to do, why don’t we remove that problem or that threat or that insecurity by uniting the 70 (percent) and defeating the 30 (percent),” he said in a television interview.

The President cited the combined votes of administration bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas and fellow candidate Sen. Grace Poe comprise already more than 40 percent of the votes, defeating Duterte’s 30 percent.

“I’m trying to get all these different voices from so many sectors together and in that sense, perhaps help our candidates get together and have that united front,” he said.

The Chief Executive added he discussed this matter with Roxas for the past three days and had text exchange with Poe Thursday night, “but that isn’t also conclusive.”