Made in jest: Palace downplays Aquino’s call to pin yellow ribbons

President Benigno Aquino III's call for his supporters to wear his family's signature yellow ribbon should not be taken too seriously,  Malacañang said Thursday.

 

At a media briefing, Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Aquino only made this statement in jest and should not be used to divide the country based on political colors.

 

"Hindi naman niya ginawang project doon sa speech niya na mag-suggest na magsuot kayo nito, o huwag kayong magsuot niyan, ‘di ba?...  I don’t think mayroong project doon na simula ngayon bibilangin natin kung mas marami ‘yung dilaw o kung mas marami ‘yung peach," Coloma told reporters on Thursday afternoon.

 

"Wala naman talaga iyon.... Sabihin lang natin it was a light moment, ano, in the dialogue. Wala namang layunin na magsimula ng kompetisyon ng kulay," he added.

 

During a forum with business leaders on Tuesday, Aquino urged Filipinos to wear yellow ribbons to show support for his administration. 

 

"We’ll come up with, perhaps, a manifestation of the support—if I still have the support of our people—and concrete examples of these. Perhaps wearing our yellow ribbons, amongst other things, just to demonstrate exactly in a quick manner where the sentiments of our people lie," Aquino said then.

 

The President made this statement in the face of eroding public satisfaction and trust on his administration, as shown by surveys conducted by Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations. 

 

Aquino's call to wear yellow ribbons has been countered by some opposition groups. 

 

For instance, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan has already appealed to the public to wear peach ribbons to support efforts to impeach the President over the administration's Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

 

Coloma said efforts to counter the President's call are just part of the "healty diversity" of opinions in the country.

 

"Nagiging makulay po ang ating bansa," the Palace official quipped. —NB, GMA News