Aquino calls out critics: ‘Hello?! I’m not candidate anymore’
President Benigno Aquino III laments that he and administration bet continue to be bashed by their critics despite their good intentions. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
ROXAS CITY, Capiz—While the “Daang Matuwid” coalition aims to continue the gains of the present administration, President Benigno Aquino III thinks his critics also have a concept of continuity.
That is, to continue their criticisms against the Aquino administration until the next, which he sees being led by Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer and close friend Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
READ: In Capiz, Aquino pulls for Roxas, Robredo
“Pati ang mga kalaban may concept ng continuity. ‘Yung ginawa sa akin, ganon din ngayon pat na rin sa susunod sa akin,” Aquino said in a speech during the LP campaign kick-off here on Tuesday.
(Even my critics have a concept of continuity. What they are doing to me, they also plan on doing to my successor.)
“Ngayon binabatikos pa rin ako. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanila, ‘Hello?! Hindi na po ako kandidato,” he said, drawing laughter from the yellow-clad audience at Capiz Gymnasium.
(They are still criticizing me until now. I just want to tell them, “Hello?! I am no longer a candidate.)
READ: Fiesta-like atmosphere in Capiz as Roxas, Robredo start campaign
Aquino made the remark after he recalled the times Roxas was criticized for being in the frontline during past disasters—a job required of him as the former Interior and Local Government secretary.
“Mapa-krisis man sa Zamboanga, lindol sa Bohol o bagyo (noong) Yolanda, lagi siyang nasa frontline para sumaklolo at umalalay. Sa kabila nito, walang humpay na batikos at reklamo (ang natanggap niya). Parang naging platform na nila na hatakin s’ya pababa,” he said.
(Roxas was in the frontline, ready to assist the victims of disasters—whether it be the crisis in Zamboanga, the earthquake in Bohol, or the Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda’ (Haiyan). Despite this, he still got flak and complaints. It’s like our critics have made it their platform to bring him down.)
But Aquino explained why Roxas is often attacked by critics and likened him to an abundant tree.
“Hitik si Mar sa bunga kaya panay ang bato sa kanya,” he said.
(People hit him because he is like a tree abundant with fruits.) IDL
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