Even the House opposition leader seems to be satisfied with President Benigno Aquino III for showing honesty during his first two years in office.

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez on Wednesday commended the “reputation for personal honesty” Aquino has exhibited as the country’s top official.

“Masaktan na yung masasaktan, pero personally, sa tingin ko, bihira naman magkaroon ng leader na honest katulad ni PNoy,” Suarez said in a press briefing.

He added that this reputation “has advanced foreign investors and creditor interest in the country.”

When asked to grade the President’s performance so far, the opposition leader said, “Baka isipin nila si Valte or Lacierda ang nagsasalita kapag nagbigay ako.”

Suarez was referring to deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte and presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

The House minority leader made these statements less than a month before Aquino delivers his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Congress on July 23.

Lack of vision

Despite this, Suarez said that Aquino has not yet drawn a clear vision for the Philippines during his first two years in office.

“Dapat masabi niya kung ano vision niya sa air, sa land, sa maritime. Dapat may vision. Dapat nga first year pa lang, mayroon nang ganyan. Iyon naman ang kailangan niyang tutukan,” the House minority leader said.

He suggested that the President focus on how to make the country’s economic gains trickle down to the poor.

Suarez likewise said that peace and order problems should also be addressed by Aquino’s government.

“Peace and order is under attack everywhere. Kidnappings, assassinations, and other serious crimes are on the rise,” he said.

He added that Aquino should also work on the equal administration of justice, citing the “continuing persecution” of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“It’s not enough you are honest. You have to be determined, sharp and ruthless both to enemies and friends. Pero iyon naman yata ang weakness ng ating Pangulo,” he said.

Mrs. Arroyo is currently detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) for poll sabotage cases. She is also facing graft raps before the Sandiganbayan for the botched national broadband project deal during her incumbency. — LBG, GMA News