Palace: Peping, Tingting’s views ‘didn’t carry weight’

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER.net file photo

MANILA, Philippines – The Palace on Monday said that the low turnout of protesters on Sunday’s anti-government protest at Edsa Shrine was an indication of the public’s continued trust in the administration under the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that Aquino is taking the protests calling for his ouster “in stride.”

“I think the significance of the number of people who attended yesterday’s (Sunday) gathering is significant manifestation of the support of the people to the President,” Lacierda said in a press briefing.

“I think people do realize the importance of the President’s role in our country. They also realize the effects of asking for the President’s resignation. The President has done so much for the country. The President has lifted us—the economic well-being of our country from its previous past. The President has made a number of significant reforms both in governance as well as in economy and continues to do so. And people see that and realize that,” he said.

The Palace official derided the opinion given by presidential uncle Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and his wife, former Tarlac governor Margarita “Tingting” Delos Reyes Cojuangco calling for the resignation of the chief executive. Both relatives of Aquino joined Sunday’s protest action.

“It’s just any other opinion in the public, which has not swayed anyone from the—or rather who has not swayed a great majority of the people. The people continue to repose their trust in the President,” he added.

He emphasized that the opinion of the Cojuangco’s “did not carry weight as far as the Filipinos are concerned.”

Various groups converged on Edsa on Sunday to call for the President and other top government officials to step down in order to implement “system change.”

The protesters clashed with the police as they were barred from holding their program at the foot of the Our Lady of Edsa statue.

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