With more and more people openly supporting his potential presidential bid, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III should be more wary about the company he keeps, Malacañang said on Thursday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez also said he believes Aquino, who plans to go on a spiritual retreat to determine his political plans for next year, is “wise enough” to see through the motives of his supporters.

He also said they respect the “spiritual strategy” of Aquino on whether he will heed calls by some civil society groups for him to run for president in 2010. Sen. Manuel Roxas II earlier set aside his presidential ambition and endorsed the candidacy of Aquino.

“We respect whatever gimmickry, whatever ways on how he can arrive on a decision. If he says that he will arrive on a decision on Sept. 9 because of that 40th day or because of any reason at all, we respect that,” he said.

Golez also refused to believe that there is huge public clamor for Aquino to run for president in next year’s elections. He said Aquino could prove that many people are supporting his candidacy only if he wins the 2010 presidential elections.

He said Malacañang is not worried that a number of opposition leaders has started to endorse Aquino, saying any person is free to support whoever he wants.

“Quitters never win and winners never quit and if they would trust Noynoy, then it’s good for him,” he said.

Despite the emergence of Aquino as a potential opposition candidate, Golez said the unity of the opposition may still be in the distant future.

“Marami pa dapat na ingredients na makita considering na napakadaming opposition. Hindi lang yung pagsuporta sa ilang kandidato, marami pong factors that they need to undergo before they can claim what they are saying,” he said.

Golez cautioned Aquino and other potential presidential candidates against being exploited by groups with vested interests amid observations that the people behind Aquino are the same ones who helped install President Arroyo in 2001 and then betrayed her a few years ago.

“Candidates should be careful if they will be taken advantage of. I think that’s the most important thing,” he said in a news conference in the Palace.