No Arroyo bashing in Aquino speech, says Palace exec

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MANILA, Philippines – It cannot be helped but President Benigno Aquino III will still mention former President, now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in his second State of the Nation Addressa (SONA) but he won’t be bashing his predecessor.

“There is a part of the President’s speech where he will inform the public of what we have discovered [about the previous administration], the situation when we took over and what we are doing to remedy this,” Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang told 990AM over “Tapatan” with Jay Sonza and Den Macaranas.

But Carandang clarified that the former administration won’t be the focus of the President’s speech but about change and transforming the society.
“What do we want to change? In what direction are we going,” Carandang said.
The President’s address will mark the opening of the 15th Congress.

About 7,000 riot police were deployed to stop the protesters from getting close to Congress in Batasan Pambansa where Aquino will deliver his speech at 4 p.m.