Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo on Wednesday rejected the call for him to step down after he openly declared support for an opposition candidate in next year's presidential election race.

The 76-year-old senior cabinet official said in a statement that he supports Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, instead of the administration coalition's standard bearer -- Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, only because of his long years of association with Aquino's family, especially the senator's late mother former President Corazon "Cory" Aquino.

Senator Aquino, 46, is a vocal critic of the Arroyo administration and has become a strong opposition candidate in the upcoming presidential election after her mother died of colon cancer in early August this year.

"I have to make it very clear that such comments do not in any way diminish my service and support for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Neither does it mean that I am moving to the opposition, Iam standing by the President until the end of her term and beyond," Romulo said in the statement.

Romulo, who was appointed in 2004 by Arroyo to lead the Department of Foreign Affairs, said he will continue to discharge his duties with utmost integrity, professionalism, and loyalty.

On Tuesday, deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo said at a press briefing that Cabinet officials should leave the government if they are going to support and actively campaign for any presidential aspirant other than the administration's pick.

Source: Xinhua