World Scene

Aquino plans to keep on puffing

Senator Benigno Aquino, set to become the Philippines' next president, said this week that he is not ready to quit smoking yet because it could affect his decision making. Aquino, who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day, said there were more pressing political, social and economic issues to be addressed than his smoking habit.

Unofficial tallies from the elections commission show Aquino has an insurmountable lead of more than 5 million votes over his nearest rival, former president Joseph Estrada, in the May 10 vote.