MARGARITA "Tingting" Cojuangco, the President's aunt-in-law and candidate for vice governor in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), is determined to run even if she isn't Malacañang's candidate.
There is no Malacañang candidate because President Benigno Aquino III wants the Armm elections moved to 2013 to give the government time to implement political reforms in the region.
When Cojuangco announced her candidacy, Aquino said it would be illogical for him and his Liberal Party to call for poll postponement and then back her as a candidate.
At a breakfast forum of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP-Laban) on Friday, Cojuangco said she and running mate former Sultan Kudarat governor Pax Mangudadatu are determined to run even without Malacañang's blessing.
