PNoy, Obama talk about ‘freedom’ being normal citizens after term

Life after the presidency was a common topic of conversation between President Benigno Aquino III and US President Barack Obama with both leaders about to bow out of office soon.

Aquino said this in a media interview during his working visit to Los Angeles, California.

Before proceeding to Los Angeles, Aquino and other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) attended the US-ASEAN Summit hosted by President Obama.

“So, sa totoo lang ‘yung mga times na nagkausap kami, hindi na ‘yung related topic… For instance, iyong huli kong binanggit sa kanya: ‘Sa Agosto, susulatan kita kung ano ang buhay ng kalayaan o ‘yung pagiging normal na mamamayan.’ Sabi niya: ‘Hihintayin ko ‘yan’,” Aquino said.

Aquino is to step down from office in June this year while Obama’s term will end on January 2017.

Aquino said President Obama had asked him if he was happy not having to participate in the national elections.

“Sabi niya: ‘hindi ka ba natutuwa may eleksyon hindi ka kasali?’ Sabi ko, ‘palagay ko pareho mo’.”

Asked whether he talked about the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with Obama on the sidelines of the summit, Aquino said he did not t find it necessary having talked about the said agreement in previous discussions.

Moreover, he said EDCA was also taken up during his bilateral meeting with Obama when the latter visited the Philippines last November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

“Dumating na kami siguro sa punto ng relasyon na nagkakaintindihan na kami e. Iyon bang kapag inulit mo pa ... parang hindi ba? Not necessary,” Aquino said. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/LBG, GMA News