Less than three months before the national elections in May, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday campaigned for Liberal Party presidential and vice presidential bets Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo in Bulacan, while boasting of the improved infrastructure in the province under his administration.
In his speech at Ramona S. Trillana High School in Hagonoy, Aquino said he was confident that Filipinos would elect leaders with proven integrity, clear plan of action, track record, and who would continue his “straight path” reforms.
“Narito na tayo sa mas mataas na lunsaran; puwede pa nating marating ang ‘di hamak na mas magandang antas para sa ating bayan. Magagawa natin’yan, kung sa daang matuwid pa rin tayo. Pero kung kabaliktaran niyan ang ating pipiliin, sino ba ang makapagsasabing talagang itutuloy ng iba ang ating nasimulan?” Aquino said.
“Paano na ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, ang PhilHealth, ang imprastraktura, ang mga trabahong nalilikha, and modernisasyon ng ating kapulisan at kasundaluhan?” he added.
Aquino also took a swipe at other candidates vying for the presidency in his pitch for Roxas and Robredo, saying the country’s future would be uncertain if the people would elect the corrupt, the abusive, and someone who promised too much.
“Ang malala pa, kung magkamali tayong mailuklok ang tiwali, abusado, o ‘yung labis-labis kung mangako, ano ang katiyakang makakabawi pa tayo sa 2022?” he said, alluding to Roxas’ rivals—the graft-facing Vice President Jejomar Binay, tough-talking Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and independent candidate Sen. Grace Poe.
“Parang patapos na yung plano, may groundbreaking na, tapos babalik tayo. Kaya doon ho ang importante. Sa May 9, boboto tayo. Talagang yung kinabukasan natin, nakasalalay doon. Puwede tayong kumuha ng mangangako ng lupa at langit, tapos pag may baha kayo, dadaanan kayo isang araw na may dalang relief goods, tapos bahala na kayo,” he added, referring to the perennial flooding woes in the municipality.
Aquino said the electorate could not afford to make a wrong decision in the upcoming polls, as there was not enough time to institute reforms and start all over again after six years.
“Ang masakit, pag tumakbo na yung oras, tumakbo na yon. Wala nang bawi, walang rewind, walang ‘Puwede bang we start again?’ Yung nawala nga hong iyon, di na natin mababawi. Pag tama ang pamamahala, ito ang magagawa natin: Yung kalsada magagawa natin, yung baha magagawa natin, lahat magagawa natin, at puwede nating gawin nang talagang matinong-matino,” he said.
In his opening salvo during the first presidential debate in Cagayan de Oro City, Roxas also alluded to his rivals’ vulnerabilities by using driving as a metaphor to good governance.
“Kanino n’yo ipagkakatiwala ang kaligtasan ng mga anak ninyo? Sa isang taong may kaso ng pagnanakaw, sa isang maintin ang ulo na maaaring makaaksidente, o sa isang ngayong pa lang natututong magmaneho?” Roxas said. RC
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