Aquino’s report gets thumbs up from two former presidents

AP PHOTO

MANILA,  Philippines—President Benigno Aquino  III ‘s report to the nation  on Monday  received  a thumbs  up  from  two  former   presidents  of the  country.

In fact,  former president Joseph Estrada  could no longer ask for  anything  more  after listening to the more than  and a half hours  speech of  Aquino.

“Ok naman  so far.  Ang haba na nga e, more than one hour,”  Estrada told reporters   after  the President’s speech  delivered  during his  third state of the nation  address   (Sona) held at the  House of Representatives in Quezon City.

Estrada commended   Aquino  for his efforts to get  rid of the  “sins and mistakes” of the past administration  considering that he has been  in office for  only two  years.

The  former  leader also backed  Aquino’s  endorsement of the controversial  Reproductive Health  Bill.

“Sa akin ‘yon ang isa sa mga solution,”  Estrada added.

Overall, Estrada described Aquino’s Sona as credible, saying it showed his zeal in mapping out reforms for the country.

Former  president Fidel  V. Ramos  also  gave his approval of  the  President’s report to the nation.

“We should support the President because he’s the skipper of our one and only ship at lahat tayo ay nakasakay doon,”  Ramos said in a separate interview with reporters.

“At kahit ano man ang kahirapan ngayon, marami pang hindi nabanggit, tulungan natin  dahil s’ya ang skipper at medyo matindi pa ang panahon at malayo pa ang ating  pupuntuhan,’  said Ramos.

Vice President  Jejomar Binay was also all praises for  Aquino.

“Napaka liwanag ng pagkakasabi ng Pangulo. Ang repormang nagawa  niya na hindi nagawa ng nakaraang administrasyon,”    Binay said.

“Maliwanag na maliwanag ang  reporma sa kanyang  panahon,”  he said.

But unlike Estrada,  Binay could not give a categorical answer when asked if he agreed  with the  President’s   endorsement of the RH bill.

“Tingnan natin kung paano. Pag uusapan pa iyon. Hindi pa naman tapos ‘yong bill na ‘yon,”  said the Vice President, adding that he has yet to see the  proposed legislation. With a report from Fat Reyes