Honasan: Protect Aquino from ‘political backlash’

Senator Gregorio Honasan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Sen. Gringo Honasan on Monday said he hoped President Benigno Aquino III would be saved from “backlash” once he steps down from office.

“Let’s protect the outgoing President from any partisan political backlash,” Honasan said during the Pandesal Forum at the Kamuning Bakery on Monday.

Besides his role in the peaceful 1986 Edsa Revolt that installed Cory Aquino to the presidency, Honasan also led a series of failed coup attempts against Cory’s administration  starting in 1987. He planned the deadliest coup attempt in December 1989 when soldiers tried to attack Malacañang.

READ: Did you know: Honasan-led coup try vs Cory Aquino

Honasan asserted that he has since changed from being a coup plotter to a duly elected statesman and senator.

READ: Honasan says of coup past: I’m a good boy now 

Honasan said that should there be cases against the President, this should not be presented to the media, which would only promote trial by publicity.

READ: Aquino cleared by Ombudsman probers in Mamasapano case

Asked about the passing of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, Honasan said the better issue would be to scrutinize if the checks and balances system in the Supreme Court had improved. Corona succumbed to cardiac arrest last Friday.

READ: Former SC Chief Justice Corona dies; he was 67 

“Ang tanong sa ating lahat, lumakas pa ba o humina ang institution? Yun sa akin ang mas importante (The question to all of us is, did the institution get stronger or weaker? That for me is more important)… I hope that history will judge Chief Justice Corona in a better light,” Honasan said.

Honasan was one of the 20 senators who voted to impeach Corona on allegations of false declarations of wealth in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). JE/rga