Is Aquino hotheaded or just hot for reforms?
President Benigno Aquino III FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Force of habit? President Benigno Aquino III was in his element again on Tuesday, lambasting at least two officials over their conduct and performance.
When the President starts his speech explaining why he has no teleprompter, expect heads to roll. He’ll most likely complain about his speechwriter or a public official or both. While he sometimes doesn’t name his targets, expect the blind item to be about someone recently making headlines.
Is it a shame campaign similar to that of the Bureau of Internal Revenue? Is the President a hotheaded fellow? Or does he just want to set an example? Feel free to decide after reading about his following speeches:
Recognition day turned roast vs Capa, et al.
On Tuesday (April 1, 2014), Aquino hit two birds with one stone when he alluded to Senior Superintended Conrad Capa, who he chastised for complaining about his new assignment, and likening Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC) president Ruben Platon and Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) head Chief Superintendent Noel Constantino to bickering children. He also complained of the PNPA’s shortage in ceremonial rifles, non-uniform uniforms, and faulty bass drums.
The day was supposed to be a celebration of the heroic acts of policemen who responded to the Zamboanga City crisis in September, the Bohol earthquake in October and Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in November, among others. Instead, it became an opportunity for the President to scold alleged erring officials and to compare them with the awardees who sacrificed their safety to serve the country.
Read: Aquino roasts Capa for being picky, two others for bickering and Aquino tells heads of police school: Stop fighting
Ateneo alumni
As an alumnus of Ateneo, it was no surprise that Aquino graced the Ateneo Professional Schools’ 40th anniversary celebration. No one expected though that he would revive the impeachment of former chief justice and fellow Ateneo alumni Renato Corona.
After complaining about his pre-written speech, Aquino briefly complained about Ateneo’s wavering stand on the issue. He also devoted a couple of minutes discussing the merit of the case.
Read: Aquino revives Corona’s midnight appointment in Ateneo
Let there be light
When the President landed at Cateel, Davao Oriental for the pre-Edsa celebration (Feb. 24, 2014), he expected the communities to have already recovered from Typhoon “Pablo” that hit them more than a year ago. When he learned that some areas still have no electricity, he did not think twice before scolding energy officials in front of the people.
“I was surprised to learn that electricity is yet to be restored in some places here … Before I leave Cateel, I need a proper answer. I hope they don’t test my patience,” he said in Filipino, berating the officials for pointing fingers. The officials may have been embarrassed but the people were ecstatic.
Read: Aquino lightly scolds officials for power lack in Cateel
Daang matuwid vs Panday
It was supposed to be the launch of Skyway Stage 3 (January 22, 2014), an event devoid of politics, but the President was still able to take swipe at one of his most prominent detractors, Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
“To those repeatedly asking and deliberately turning a blind eye to our achievements: This is the straight path,” he said in his speech…This is not hammered out of fantasy, nor fabricated like a scene in a movie,” he said, referring to the films of the actor-turned-politician.
Read: Aquino hits ‘Panday’: No fantasy, fabrication
Did he or did he not? Below are some instances when he seemed to be referring to particular people but did not elaborate:
Uphold the honor code
Aquino didn’t directly refer to dismissed Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia at the school’s commencement exercises (March 16, 2014), but his speech on the need to uphold the Honor Code in and outside of the institution alluded to his case.
Aquino said if it is prohibited to lie, steal and cheat inside PMA, the graduates should also uphold the same principles outside the academe. Cudia was dismissed for allegedly lying about why he was late for class. However, his sister’s post on social media snowballed into a campaign calling for a consideration.
Read: Apply the honor code outside PMA, Aquino tells graduates
No wang wang
The President during the launch of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s new traffic control system (January 8, 2014) reiterated his “no wang wang” policy. In attendance was Makati Mayor Junjun Binay who recently figured in a controversial standoff at the Dasmariñas Village.
Aquino insisted that no one had the right to act as if they are the king of the road. But Binay said he was not affected by the comment nor did he think he was being referred to by the President. “It’s a general statement always given by the President,” he told media.
Read: Junjun Binay not affected by Aquino’s ‘no wang wang’ remark
Below are some of his earlier headline-grabbing speeches and statements:
November 17, 2013— President Benigno Aquino III during his visit to Tacloban City blamed unnamed officials whom he said are responsible for the high casualty in Super Typhoon “Yolanda” because of their alleged failure to prepare for the monster typhoon.
July 28, 2012— President Benigno Aquino III criticized TV Patrol anchor and former Vice President Kabayan Noli De Castro during the 25th anniversary celebration of TV Patrol for habit of injecting his opinion and baseless speculations during the prime time news telecast.
Read: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/238327/aquino-slams-news-delivery-during-tv-networks-bash and
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/238965/abs-cbn-stands-by-its-man-de-castro-against-aquinos-tirade
December 4, 2011—President Benigno Aquino III criticized the Supreme Court during the 1st National Criminal Justice Summit where Chief Justice Renato Corona is in attendance.
June 12, 2011— President Benigno Aquino III on his first Independence Day celebration as a president took a swipe at the Arroyo administration’s failure to reform the country’s system saying we should not forget the mistakes of the past.
July 14, 2010-Presiding over his first disaster management briefing, President Benigno Aquino III hits the weather bureau for its failure to notify the public that Typhoon Basyang would directly hit Metro Manila and for its weather bulletin errors.
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