Manny Villar, presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party (NP), thanked "Baby" James Yap for his accidental endorsement, reports ABS-CBN News.

Baby James, almost three years old and the nephew of Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, uttered Villar's name during a campaign program in Bacolod last March 29. Youtube videos tagging Baby James as "Villar's secret endorser" show a bewildered Kris Aquino quickly saying "No," much to the amusement of the audience.

In a press conference held April 6, Villar reacted by saying that he is happy knowing that children like him. "Ikinararangal ko na kapag nakikita kong nagugustuhan ako ng mga bata. Dahil ang mga bata honest [I am happy, and it's a huge honor for me to be liked by children because children are honest.]"

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Sen. Noynoy Aquino told GMANews.tv that his nephew is currently in his "Terrible Two" stage. He explained that Baby James was prone to repeat anything he sees or hears even if he's forbidden to do so.

Sen. Aquino told reporters that he no longer wants his nephew to campaign for him, but clarified that the "Villar" incident had nothing to do with his decision. "Nakikita ninyo kung paano ako pinapakitaan ng salubong ng ating kababayan. Ang pamangkin ko medyo payat at maliit, pag nagalusan tayo paano na man siya? Ako di sangayon isabak sa init ng klima at baka ... Si Joshua, puwede pa 'yan [You can see how warm people welcome me, but my nephew is so small and frail, he may be hurt. If I can get scratched during my campaigns, how much more Baby James? Besides, the weather is hot. I think my elder nephew Joshua can better join me.]"

In an interview with entertainment website Darlasauler.com, Kris Aquino made it clear that her son was not endorsing Villar. She explained that Baby James usually teased her uncle by saying the names of his political rivals, thus the slip. Aquino also asked the public to spare Baby James from political issues and just let him enjoy being a toddler.