Aquino hit for criticisms against Arroyo

Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Tuesday said that President Benigno Aquino III may have gone too far in his criticisms on embattled former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, an ally of Arroyo who is now representing the second district of Pampanga, said that of Aquino’s jabs on the previous administration.

The President did not name Arroyo during his speech for the Filipino community in Auckland, New Zealand but criticized corrupt officials and even cracked a wheelchair joke, alluding to Arroyo who is now under hospital arrest at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center on charges of plunder.

Arroyo was in a wheelchair when she was barred from leaving the country to seek medical services abroad last year. She is facing charges of electoral sabotage back then and was later detained at the VMMC.

In his joke, Aquino said “yung mga kababayan raw ho nating corrupt sa Pilipinas, kagagara ng kotse, kamamahal, katutulin. Pero pagka-ginustong tumakas, ang ginagamit: wheelchair.”

“He should know the proper time to say things especially since he is the head of state. He should conform to our sense of decency and fair play,” said Magsaysay.

She said that what the President’s comments indicated “where his fixation on lies.”

“He should harp more on his accomplishments and what he intends to do to solve the nation’s ills than beating an opponent who is already down,” said the Zambales lawmaker.