Palace to Lagman: Not our fault if 'noisy minority' remark offended you

A day after President Benigno Aquino III called them a “noisy minority" at an event attended by members of the international community, Malacañang continued to talk back to its critics, who it said have themselves to blame if they feel offended. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said that while the Palace does not want to start the New Year with a word war, it is not the Palace’s fault if some people feel alluded to by Aquino’s statement. “We are not fighting with anyone. The president was just stating a matter of fact. If it hurt some people, that’s not our fault," she said in Filipino on government-run dzRB radio. Besides, she said the context of Aquino’s statement was a call for all Filipinos to work together. “On the side of the president, the intention was to look beyond our differences and help each other so we can start the year on a good note," she said. On Friday, Aquino took a dig at his critics at the traditional Palace vin d’honneur [an event for special guests], where he said the “noisy minority" are seeking to bring back the “malicious practices of the past." “There will be challenges ahead — from an uncertain outlook for the global economy, to a noisy minority who want to rekindle the malicious practices of the past. But if we work together, we will overcome the challenges and fulfill the promise of the year ahead," Aquino said on Friday. [See story: Aquino criticizes 'noisy minority' at Palace event] Aquino’s comment drew criticism from House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, who described Aquino’s comment as a “crude partisan tirade." Lagman said he asked members of the House minority to join the vin d’honneur as an “expression of cooperation with the Aquino administration in the advent of the New Year" only to be hit by a “derisive remark." He said that while the minority is articulate and not “noisy," it is Aquino “who repeatedly harps on the perceived sins of the past in a vain effort to project himself as a ‘different and model’ leader." No declaration of war Valte pointed out Aquino’s statement at Friday’s event was not a declaration of war, adding this was not the first time Aquino made such a comment. Lagman had said that if Aquino is picking a fight this early in 2011, “then the minority is not running away from a good fight. If the President asks for it, he will get it." But Valte questioned why it was only now that Lagman chose to respond to the remarks, which she said Aquino had been making in past forums where he was a speaker. “Unang una, hindi ito bago, hindi ito declaration of war ni Pangulong Aquino. Matagal na niyang sinasabi ito, di lang sa vin d’honneur kundi sa ibang fora kung saan nagsalita si Pangulong Aquino (First of all, what Aquino said at the vin d’honneur was no declaration of war. He had been saying this before in other forums where he is a speaker)," she said. “We don’t know why Lagman chose to react only now. We are sure he was not the one personally being alluded to," she added. When asked if Aquino’s comment was necessary as it was made at an event attended by diplomats, Valte reiterated it was “not just a remark [but] a statement of fact." “Since he assumed office, the president has been saying some groups want to bring back the past. We will not allow them to succeed," she said. — LBG, GMANews.TV