Palace: Aquino was just telling the truth

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Tuesday defended President Benigno Aquino III’s decision to speak against some members of the clergy when Pope Francis visited him last week.

“Makatotohanan ang kanyang talumpati at wala siyang layuning mapanira (His speech was truthful and he had no intention to inflict harm),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a briefing.

During his speech before Pope Francis and the diplomatic corps on Tuesday, Aquino criticized both the previous administration and the Church leaders who supported it.

“There was a true test of faith when many members of the Church, once advocates for the poor, the marginalized, and the helpless, suddenly became silent in the face of the previous administration’s abuses, which we are still trying to rectify to this very day,” Aquino had said.

Coloma said Aquino only narrated his own experiences and observations about the role of the Church in the country.

“The speech was truth-telling statement. If we review the entire text, we will understand the context. It was a narrative that is historically accurate and truthful and there is no singling out of any personality or any group,” he said.

While Aquino recalled the “courage and daring displayed by the clergy” during martial law–a time when his family was persecuted by the dictatorship–he claimed that “many members” of the Church were silent during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Aquino also took offense against their reactions to his own administration.

“In contrast to their previous silence, some members of the clergy now seem to think that the way to be true to the faith means finding something to criticize, even to the extent that one prelate admonished me to do something about my hair, as if it were a mortal sin,” Aquino had said.

Despite Aquino’s complaints about the personal attacks against him, Coloma said the President had no other purpose but to tell the truth.