SPEAKER Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Tuesday defended President Benigno Aquino III from criticisms that the latter was insensitive for skipping the second year anniversary of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” in Tacloban to attend a wedding.
In a press conference, Belmonte, who is the Liberal Party’s vice chair, said the President had the best concerns at heart for the victims of Yolanda (International name: Haiyan) which flattened towns and killed over 6,000 people when it hit the Visayas on Nov. 2013.
“The commemoration is in the heart, not in the show,” Belmonte said.
Aquino was absent from Sunday’s ceremonies in Tacloban, which was attended by Vice President Jejomar Binay and Senator Bongbong Marcos. Instead, the president attended the wedding of tycoon Andrew Tan’s youngest son, Kester, who married Singapore-based Kelsey Cheng at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Shrine in Newport City, Pasay City.
The President also skipped the commemoration in Tacloban last year, choosing instead to commemorate the disaster in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, where Yolanda made its first landfall.
Tacloban city is the turf of the Romualdezes, the family of former First Lady Imelda Marcos. President Aquino’s father then opposition senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was assassinated under the administration of Imelda’s husband the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
Belmonte said he accompanied Aquino at Kester Tan’s wedding. Also joining them is Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras.
“The President did not tarry. Pagkakuha ng mga litrato, umalis na siya,” Belmonte said.
He said at the onslaught of Yolanda, he witnessed the concern of the President when Aquino immediately visited Yolanda-hit areas.
“Sa tingin ko, hindi naman nagkukulang ng concern because that’s even day one [after the typhoon struck]. And I can talk authoritatively about this because I was there,” said Belmonte, who was with Aquino during the visit.
Belmonte also said while Aquino drew flak for missing the arrival rites of the bodies of the slain Special Action Force (SAF) cops who died in the Mamasapano incident, the President talked to the families in the evening until the wee hours of the morning to spend time with the bereaved families.
“Up to 3 a.m., he (Aquino) was there— I was also there— talking to each family. Hindi ba mas maganda ‘yun kaysa ‘yung andun ka lang symbolically? Andoon ka lang sa airport at magpapakuha ka ng litrato? I think we have to cull the grain from the chaff,” he added.
Aquino had been criticized on social media for being insensitive by skipping the Yolanda commemoration. But he issued a statement that was read by his spokesperson, Edwin Lacierda, asking for prayers for the victims and paying tribute to those who helped Eastern Visayas rise from its fall.