Former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will not seek elective office in 2019 because he feared being ganged upon by critics of his past administration and supporters of the present dispensation.

“As of now, if I will seek a post, they will form groups so I will not win if I will run. We know the issue of trolls on social media, etc.,” said Aquino in a mix of English and Filipino.

Saying he’ll be reduced to fending off attacks, he added “I might win but I might be on my lonesome.” While brushing aside a run for the Senate, the former chief executive said he’ll focus in helping campaign for opposition candidates.

“I plan to help those who have similar views, similar advocacies as I have. What I want is to increase our numbers. Maybe I really must help to elect those from the opposition who will really provide checks and balance,” Aquino said.

‘I might win’

He said during the commemoration of the 35th death anniversary of his father, the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., that the opposition needs the numbers in the legislature to be effective in checking government excesses.

Aquino said that while he might win if he runs, it may be at the expense of other opposition bets not making it.

“If I will run I will just be lifting my own bench. But if the interest of the nation will be served by my sacrifices with many more (from the opposition) winning seats then I’d rather that the country shines instead of me.”

Aquino is being blamed for the Dengvaxia fiasco which saw his administration vaccinate nearly a million children with the anti-dengue vaccine which its own maker, Sanofi Pasteur of France, said can make dengue cases worse for those vaccinated with it without prior exposure to the disease spread by mosquitos.