Filtered By: Topstories
News

PNoy praises Roxas, leaves out Binay in last SONA thank you list


(UPDATED 9:05 p.m.) President Benigno Aquino III on Monday lavished praise upon Interior Secretary Mar Roxas in his State of the Nation Address on Monday, even as he left out Vice President Jejomar Binay in the list of Cabinet officials he wished to thank during his term.
 
In his final SONA, Aquino thanked past and present Cabinet secretaries who he said have been instrumental in his efforts to institute reforms in the government.
 
While Aquino expressed gratitude to former members of the cabinet, including former Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla and the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, he made no mention of Binay, who had served as the housing czar and presidential adviser on overseas workers affairs until his resignation from the Cabinet in June.
 
Of all the Cabinet officials he thanked, it was Roxas for whom Aquino had the fondest of words.
 
He said the Interior Secretary has become the target of detractors because of his competence.
 
"Maraming galit sa iyo dahil talagang may ibubuga ka. Pursigido silang ibagsak ka. Palibhasa di nila kayang iangat ang kanilang sarili kaya pilit ka nilang binababa," Aquino said.
 
The President believes the attacks against Roxas is proof that his political opponents are "afraid" of his integrity and competence.
 
"Mar, pinatutunayan mong you can't put a good man down," he told the Interior Secretary, the Liberal Party's presumptive standard bearer in the 2016 elections.
 
Though Aquino stopped short of endorsing Roxas' rumored presidential bid, he encouraged the Interior Secretary to have faith in the public's ability to discern.
 
"Tulad ng pagtitiwala ng nanay at tatay ko. Magtiwala kang alam ng taumbayan kung sino ang tunay na inuuna ang bayan bago ang sarili," the President told Roxas, who ran as Aquino's vice president in 2010.
 
'Eh 'di wow!'
 
Aquino thanked his personal secretaries, close-in assistants, stylists, and even household manager Yolly Yebes, but he didn't thank Binay for his Cabinet service that ended only weeks ago.
 
And while he didn't name names, Aquino had choice words for critics of his administration.
 
In touting the increase of Philhealth coverage under his administration, Aquino said, "Ito po 'yung pagkalingang tinatawag ng iba na palpak at manhid. Ang tugon ko, sabi nga ni Aiza Seguerra: 'I thank you, bow.'"
 
It was in apparent response to Binay, who had called the Aquino administration "manhid" and "palpak" in a scathing speech days after leaving the Cabinet.
 
Later in his speech, Aquino took another apparent swipe at Binay, so far the only candidate who has made a definite announcement that he was running for president.
 
"Ang hirit nila: Mabagal daw tayo. Kapag sila raw ang naging Pangulo, sigurado, gaganda ang buhay," Aquino said, in apparent reference to Binay's slogan in 2010, "Kay Binay Gaganda Ang Buhay."
 
"Sa mga medyo may-edad po, ang isasagot dito, 'Ah, ganun?' sabay taas ng kilay. Para naman sa kabataan, ang sagot natin sa ganoong pahayag: 'Eh 'di wow,'" he added.
 
Aquino said the promises also lacked specific plans.
 
"Ang tanong natin: Paano nila gagawin ang mga pangakong iyan? Ang sagot nila: Basta. Nasaan ang detalye at kongkretong mga plano? Basta. Paano ninyo ipatutupad ang inyong mga pangako? Basta. Pakiramdam yata nila nadadaan sa basta-basta ang solusyon sa ating mga problema," Aquino said.
 
Makati Rep. Abigail Binay said she didn't take it against the President that her father, the Vice President, was left out of Aquino's thank you list.
 
"Prerogative ng Presidente 'yun, kung sino ang pasasalamatan niya, kung sino'ng hindi niya pasasalamatan. Ang importante lang, alam ng mga taong natulungan ng aking ama na natulungan sila," the congresswoman said.
 
Anti-dynasty law
 
In his speech, Aquino also openly called for the passage of an anti-dynasty law in the last regular session of the 16th Congress.
 
Binay has repeatedly indicated that he was against the constitutional provision against political dynasties and any proposed enabling law. He said it should be the electorate that should decide whether to vote for candidates from the same family or clan.
 
Aside from the Vice President, there are three other Binays now holding elective positions: his children Senator Nancy, Makati Mayor Junjun and Makati Representative Abigail.
 
Rep. Binay said that she did not feel alluded to when the President made mention of political families holding onto power.
 
"Hindi. Kami ba yun? Hindi...Mali yung interpretasyon na sinasabi niyo na pamilya namin 'yung tinitira sa anti-dynasty kasi hindi lang naman yung pamilya namin ang mga politiko," she said.
 
"Hindi importante 'yung pasaring, hindi importante yung may in-endorso. Hindi importante 'yung tinitira kami or ina-allude to our family. That's not improtant. What's important is, do the people feel — 'yung mga boss — nararamdaman ba nila yung pag-unlad ng bayan?" she added. —ALG/NB/JST, GMA News
LOADING CONTENT