Senators on Noy's SONA: 'Sincere, moving, powerful'

By Christina Mendez (philstar.com) 

MANILA, Philippines - Senators found sincerity in President Aquino’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, where the chief executive paraphrased the slogan of his late father, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, that "Filipinos are worth dying for."

Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said he saw in the President his desire to abide by the Supreme Court’s decision on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

”The fact that he sought for supplemental budget for DAP-funded projects, he is acknowledging the decision of the Supreme Court regarding its ruling on the DAP,” Angara added.

Angara said he would have wanted to hear about how the Aquino administration would address the energy crisis.

“I would have wanted to hear more about the concrete solutions of the administration in addressing the looming energy crisis. But otherwise, it was a direct-to-the-point and sincere speech,” Angara said.

Angara also lauded the President over the good news on jobs and scholarship programs.

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Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV expressed support anew to the current administration.

“It was a very moving speech, has a powerful message. Palagay ko maraming pong sasabay sa kanyang tuwid na daan,” Trillanes said.

The President also made clear his goals to continue working for the good of the people as his term ends on 2016, the senator said.

Trillanes said he and the Aquino may have different views on the K-12 program but he respects the President’s views.

He said the President showed that he is “just human” amid the adversities in his political leadership, faced with threats of impeachment.

Prior to the President’s SONA, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Aquino should start working on the future as he spends his last two years in office. “The future. Not the past."

Sen. Gringo Honasan, meanwhile, perceived the SONA as Aquino's "call for unity for the remainder of his term, for continuity, sustainability."

In his Twitter account, Sen. JV Ejercito said the Aquino's fifth SONA was his best.

"Even if I am in the opposition, I think this SONA is the best by PNoy. Concise and simple. He became emotional in the end. Pati ako nadala," said Ejercito, whose half brother, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is jailed for his alleged involvement in the pork barrel fund scam.

Senate President Franklin Drilon said his favorite part of Aquino's SONA was "where he said gusto ba nating ipagpatuloy itong ating mga naumpisahan."

"So the continuity is very critical for us to be able to achieve our goals," Drilon said.