Aquino: No powerful family owns Pampanga

President Aquino. FILE PHOTO

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – No powerful family owns Pampanga, so said President Benigno Aquino III when he campaigned for Team PNoy in this home province of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday.

Aquino admitted, however, that facing the people in this province was not an easy task for him.

“Aaminin ko po, hindi madaling humarap sa inyo ngayon. Nasa Pampanga ako at natural lamang na ikarangal ninyo ang mga kilalang personalidad mula sa inyong probinsya,” he told the crowd at the Heroes Hall here where the Team PNoy senatorial and local candidates held their political rally.

But Aquino said the issue was not about personalities – whether who are popular or closest to the hearts of people here.

It was about doing the right things, protecting the interests of the Cabalens (provincemates) and the entire nation as a whole, he said.

The issue, Aquino said, was about correcting the wrong things done in the past and making sure that this would not be repeated again.

He did not name names though but repeatedly mentioned the alleged irregularities committed under the Arroyo administration.

At the start of his speech, the President made it clear that the province did not belong to any powerful person or family.

In fact, he said, the Aquinos also came from Pampanga.

“Siguro yung mga magsusulat ng headlines na, ‘Noynoy invades Pampanga.’ Palagay nila singaw ako, thank you na lang sa inyo,” he said.

In fact, he said, he was wondering why there were people saying that the province was a bailiwick of one powerful family.

“Ayon nga sa mga nasasagap natin, kung ano raw ang idikta nila asahan na raw ang pagsunod ng mga kampangan dito,” he said.

But the President said he doubted this, saying he knows the Cabalens for always siding with the truth.

It is also clear in the last elections in 2010 that no powerful person owns this province, he said.

“Malinaw po sa resulta ng nakaraang halalan , ang mga Cabalen ay hindi pag aari ng kung sinu sinong makapangyarihan. Ang mga Kapampangan ay hindi maikakadena sa impluwensya ng mga taong sangkot sa katiwalian,” he said.

The President likewise rejected criticisms on his unrelenting attacks against the past administration.

“Wala na raw tayong ibang inatupad kundi mag-ungkat ng mga kapalpakan. Mag move on na daw po tayo. Maawa na raw po tayo sa kanila. Huwag naman daw po natin silang gamitin bilang plataporma,” he said.

“At hindi ko ho talaga sila gagamiting plataporma. Gagamitin ko po sila para malaman kung saan hindi dapat tumungo,” the President added.