Noy defends mom Cory: Enrile part of 'misrule,' not an expert in governance

Former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Friday shot back at former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for saying that his mother, the late President Corazon "Cory" Aquino, did not know anything about governance.

"He (Enrile) was part of the misrule for such a long time," Aquino told reporters after attending the Mass for Peace in De La Salle University in Manila to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

"He is not the expert in terms of governance."

The erstwhile leader was responding to Enrile's comments made during an interview by Marcos' son, former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., video of which was posted on Marcos' Facebook page on Thursday, the eve of the Martial Law anniversary.

During the interview, Enrile said Mrs. Aquino had no idea about governance and should be blamed for the communist insurgency problem since she was the one who freed communist leader in 1986 as a move towards reconciliation.

"When I joined the first Cabinet meeting with Cory, she did not make any decision. I realized that the President did not know anything about governance," said Enrile, who was among the three senators detained under Noynoy Aquino's administration in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.

During the interview on Friday, Aquino said he has no intention of listening to Enrile.  "Pasensiya na kung 'di ko siya papakinggan," he said.

Enrile, 94, served as the elder Marcos' justice secretary and defense minister during the Martial Law years from 1972 to 1986. He and fellow military officer, Fidel Ramos, however, became instrumental in the downfall of the Marcos regime since they abandoned their posts and joined the protesters in EDSA in February 22 to 25, 1986.

The bloodless People Power Revolution forced the Marcoses to flee the Palace and went into exile in Hawaii. Mrs. Aquino was then installed as president.

Marcos' Martial Law is blamed for the arrest and torture of some 70,000 people and death of at least 3,000 others, based on Philippine government records and international human rights organizations. —KBK, GMA News