Was the President just kidding or was it a scolding disguised as a joke?
President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday morning complained about his speechwriters’ inability to produce a prepared speech for him, usually displayed via a teleprompter.
Aquino told hundreds of governments-owned or -controlled corporation (GOCC) officials not to worry because his speech will only last for about three minutes.
“I don’t have a teleprompter. I have four pieces of paper here,” he said while holding a piece of paper. “I hope my speechwriters will eventually learn to prepare in advance.”
“Emulate the efficiency of our GOCCs,” he said, just moments after GOCC officials handed over checks of dividends and remittances worth P36.86 billion.
READ: GOCCs turn over P36.36 billion in dividends to Aquino, national treasury | Aquino mulls bonus hike for GOCCs
It is not the first time Aquino criticized the work of his speechwriters. In the past, he would tell the audience if he did not like a particular draft and would instead give an impromptu speech.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, however, denied Aquino was displeased with the staff.
“Occasionally, the President opts to discard a prepared speech and delivers his message in an impromptu manner,” Coloma told INQUIRER.net. “As you have observed, he spoke about his speechwriters with levity.”
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