Palace chides Poe over ‘Daang Matuwid’ criticism

IN AN APPARENT swipe at presidential aspirant Sen. Grace Poe, Malacanañg said the senator has been promising to surpass the Aquino administration’s accomplishments “without offering concrete alternative programs.”

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma yesterday told reporters that “our people have the right to expect (these programs) from presidential candidates such as herself.”

He recalled that “in the 2013 elections, which served as a virtual midterm referendum on “Daang Matuwid” (President Aquino’s straight path reform agenda), the administration received an overwhelming vote of confidence from the people with nine senatorial candidates of the administration coalition headed by then erstwhile MTRCB chairperson Grace Poe in the winning column.”

Coloma, who also heads the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), indicated it was ironic that “for the past five years, Senator Poe had identified herself with the government’s priority reform programs on inclusive growth anchored on Daang Matuwid that have resulted in poverty alleviation, increased employment and improved revenue collection.”

The PCOO chief was reacting to Poe’s claim that “traffic” in Daang Matuwid—referring to poverty, unemployment and unjust taxes—was derailing genuine growth.

On Monday, Poe taunted the administration, saying many Filipinos were still poor and hopeless despite the reform agenda’s implementation.

Speaking before the Philippine Government Employees Association and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Poe was quoted as having said: “They say that the straight path has paved for improvements.”

“While the path is straight, it has been riddled with traffic. In other words, the previous administration has its share of accomplishments, but we also need to open our eyes to the truth. Not everything that has been done the past six years was able to improve the loss of most people. There are still those who suffer poverty and hunger and have lost hope,” she claimed.

When she announced her presidential bid in September, Poe took a dig at those excluding her from the administration’s Daang Matuwid even as she heaped praises on the President.

She asserted that “no one man or group holds a monopoly on “Daang Matuwid” as she also noted Mr. Aquino “has done much to curb corruption and I am thankful that it has restored the people’s faith in an honest leader.”

In response, Liberal Party (LP) stalwart and Senate President Franklin Drilon said the reform agenda was already the platform of the President and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the LP standard-bearer in the 2016 elections.

“Our opponents should find another platform because this is already the platform of President Noynoy and his anointed successor,” he added.