Ex-President Estrada, senators assess Aquino gov’t

Former President Joseph Estrada INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Hours before President Benigno Aquino III was to give his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, former President Joseph “Erap” Ejercito Estrada, Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Serge Osmena, Bongbong Marcos, Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Bong Revilla and Panfilo Lacson arrived at the North Wing Lobby of the Batasan Complex and gave out their ratings and assessment of the Aquino administration.

They also voiced out their opinions on what they thought should be addressed by Aquino in his speech.

Erap Estrada said he expected Aquino to detail his achievements in terms of addressing economic growth and anti-corruption drives. Erap added that Aquino should focus on curbing extrajudicial killings, infrastructure programs, and addressing foreign relations.

Marcos said that “for the priorities they set for themselves, they seem to have achievements,” referring to Aquino’s social programs like the Conditional Cash Transfer programs and his anti-corruption drive.

Marcos added that Aquino needed to address problems of unemployment and poverty.

“Naghihintay pa rin ang taong bayan para patibayin ang ekonomiya para magkaroon ng trabaho sa Pilipinas. Ang tanging problema sa ekonomiya ay kakulangan ng trabaho,” Marcos said.

Senator Jingoy Estrada, for his part, said that he wanted to hear from Aquino if his promises during his past Sonas were fulfilled, and what were his priority bills for Congress.

Legarda, meanwhile, said that good governance was at the core but that there were problems in terms of job generation and putting food on the table.

“Kailangan makita kung paano ipapatupad ang tuwid ng daan. Kung papaano makakapagbigay ng trabaho, solusyon sa gutom, solusyon sa sakuna,” Legarda said.