President Benigno Aquino III AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Sunday dismissed claims by the dean of the San Beda College’s Graduate School of Law that the administration “ruthlessly cut down its enemies.”
Fr. Ranhilio Aquino-Callangan, dean of the said law school, posted on Facebook about the “less than nice way” the government treats its critics, the CBCP News reported.
“Hindi po kami sang-ayon dahil sa simula’t sapul ang naging tugon naman po ng ating pamahalaan ay ‘yung hayaan ‘yung malayang pagpapahayag ng mga pananaw kahit ito ay taliwas o naiiba sa pananaw ng pamahalan,” Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said over state-run radio.
(We do not agree because from the start, the government has allowed free expression of opinions even if the view espoused may be against that of the government.)
Coloma said the administration of President Benigno Aquino III argues with reason.
“Gumagamit po tayo ng mga kongkretong datos para ipakita ‘yung posisyon ng pamahalaan. At sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay naging handa namang makipagpalitan ng kuro-kuro sa isang maayos na paraan na naaayon sa diwa ng isang demokrasya,” he added.
(We use concrete data to explain the position of the government. And at all times we are ready to exchange views in a proper way and in accordance with the spirit of democracy.)
Callangan’s post, which has since been deleted, pointed out that the Aquino administration ousted many appointees of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and had “caused Ombudsman (Merceditas Gutierrez) to resign.”
“It impeached a Chief Justice by buying the votes of senators. It has caused the prosecution and detention of senators not on the Yellow Side,” he had said.
The dean also claimed that at the same, Aquino has been soft on his allies who have gotten their share of controversy.
He had called the government “hypocritical” for targeting Vice President Jejomar Binay. “It is clear that he is hounded now to destroy his chances at the presidency,” Callangan said, claiming that Binay’s inquisitors did in fact profit from wrongdoing such as receiving allocations from the Disbursement Acceleration Fund.
“It is this attempt at railroading the results of the 2016 election that I most detest, and that will be true whether the candidate is Binay or Pokwang or Aling Dionesia!” he said.
Coloma insisted that the government recognizes everyone’s right to disagree or have a different opinion.
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