Aquino: I’m not a thief

By Ina Andolong
Solar News

President Aquino went on national television with a blunt address to the nation, that DAP is not PDAF, and that, contrary to what the obfuscators want everybody to believe about the pork barrel scandal, he is not the thief.

To be blunt about it, hearing the President defend the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) is no longer new.

He’s done this several times, in interviews with the media and in various forums over the past few weeks.

Even Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma did not deny this when Solar News talked to him after the President delivered his speech.

Coloma, however, did explain why the President wanted to reiterate his position on DAP, saying that President Aquino wanted to make sure that the entire nation tunes in to what he has to say.

Coloma explained that, in forums where DAP was discussed and defended, the President was addressing only specific sectors.

This time, President Aquino apparently thought that airing a live speech on prime time TV would ensure that he is heard.

We also asked Secretary Coloma about the reference to the term “old politician” in his speech, alluding to the politician whose advice was apparently heeded by those out to misdirect the people, and criticize DAP.

While it would seem that the President was referring to someone in particular, Coloma said, he believes it was an idiomatic expression used by the president to refer to how old politicians would cloud up issues to distract the people.

As a background, we recall that among the politicians facing plunder accusations in connection with the pork barrel scandal are Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla.

Palace officials underscored that the speech was not in response to recent surveys tending to show a drop in the President’s approval ratings.

Experts we’ve talked to, however, didn’t buy this.

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said the speech seems to show that the recent criticisms have hit the President hard, and that he now wants to personally address these criticisms, in the hope of preventing a further drop in his ratings.

Another analyst, Prospero de Vera, said “of course it has something to do with the controversy and the survey results.”

De Vera even commended the President for deciding to speak out, adding that “he is a better communicator than all of his spokespersons combined.”

Journalists were not allowed to throw questions after the speech.

However, on Thursday, when he inspects some ports and terminals in preparation for the expected exodus in time for All Souls’ Day, there should be opportunities to do so.

Here is the link to the full transcript of the President’s speech posted by Malacañan:
http://www.gov.ph/2013/10/30/pambansang-pahayag-ni-pangulong-aquino-noong-ika-30-ng-oktubre-2013/

Link to the English translation of the President’s address:
http://www.gov.ph/2013/10/30/televised-address-of-president-benigno-s-aquino-iii-october-30-2013-english/

http://www.solarnews.ph/news/2013/10/31/aquino-i-m-not-a-thief#.UnIRbyQZzJw