The Cojuangco-Aquino political clan has become an "element" of Philippine politics and will continue to get voters' support in future elections, an analyst said Sunday following the death of former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III.
"I observed yesterday that the Aquino magic is really an element of Philippine politics. It shows that Cojuangco-Aquino is a brand name in Philippine politics that will continuously have a constituency. They have sustained this for many decades," UP political science professor Aries Arugay told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo.
Mourners clad in yellow and black on Saturday paid their finalrespects to Aquino, who passed away Thursday due to renal failure secondary to diabetes. The country's 15th president was laid to rest at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
The momentum of support for the Aquinos after the former president's death could be sustained until the upcoming election depending on howthe opposition will try to use his legacy, Arugay said.
“If we look at the late President Noynoy Aquino, he represents ideals that can be applied to people's aspirations today,” he said. “If this can be used in a campaign, the candidate should apply it to the current sentiment and aspirations of voters.”
Noynoy, then a senator, rode a similar wave of support to the presidency in 2010, a year after his mother, former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino, died.
Cory Aquino herself was propelled to the highest position in the land by the death of her husband, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
The late President Noynoy's youngest sister, actress Kris Aquino, can be a "powerful catalyst" for the opposition, Arugay added.
“She has huge influence in politics. Short of running, she can also be a powerful catalyst for the opposition,” he said.
“PNoy” was chairman emeritus of the Liberal Party, currently led by Vice President Leni Robredo.
