Aquino hits Noli for negative comments on his presidency

President Benigno Aquino III slammed former Vice President Noli de Castro for allegedly promoting “negativism” against his administration’s reform agenda on Friday.

In a speech held at Oriental Mindorro, the broadcasters’ home province, the President warned the public against their “Kabayan” on his negative comments. Aquino did not name De Castro in his speech, but instead referred to him as a former government official who, he said, calls the people “Kabayan.”

De Castro, who is popularly known as “Kabayan”, returned to his previous job as a news anchor and radio commentator at ABS-CBN Channel 2 after his six-year stint as Vice President during the Arroyo administration.

“Patuloy ang paglaban natin sa katiwalian at paglikha ng pagkakataon sa ating mga kababayan. Pero hindi nga po siguro mawawala ang iilang pursigido pa ring magbahid ng duda sa ating mga reporma (We continue to fight corruption and create opportunities for our people. But there will probably be no shortage of those who try to cast doubt on our reforms),” the President said during a briefing on government infrastructure projects in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro.

“Meron po diyan, ganado pang magkomento ng negatibo, gayong kasama naman sila sa mga naging pinuno ng bansa. Imbes na maibsan ang pagdurusa ng nasasakupan, pinalala pa ito. At ngayon, bagaman tinutugunan na natin ang mga problemang ipinamana sa atin, hindi pa rin nagsawa sa paghirit ang itinuturing kayong ‘kabayan’(There are those who make negative comments, even though there were among the former leaders of the country. Instead of easing the suffering of their constituents, they made things worse. And today, although we are addressing the problems we inherited, the person who considers you ‘kabayan’ continues to criticize us),” the President said referring to De Castro for his continuous negative comments of the present administration.

He called on the public to remain vigilant against certain groups that spread negativism and place their selfish interests ahead of the nation’s welfare.

“Ang hamon po sa inyo sa Mindoro, at sa bawat Pilipinong kasangga natin sa agenda ng reporma ay maging mapagmatyag sa kung ano ang totoo, at maging mulat sa motibo ng naghahasik ng negatibismo (My challenge to the people of Mindanao and every Filipino is to support our reform agenda: Be vigilant on what is true and be aware of the motives of those who spread negativism),” he said.

The President maintains that he will continue to stick to the straight path and address the country’s woes and ensures that all of his decisions are based on the mandate of his bosses, the Filipino people.

“Bilang ama ng bayan, itinataguyod ko ang tama at makatwiran; tinutugunan natin ang mga lumalapag na problema upang hindi na ito ipamana sa susunod sa atin (As father of the nation, I will uphold what is right and just. We are addressing the problems so we won’t pass them to our successor),” he said.

This was not the first time Aquino took a jab at the former vice president. In July 2012, Aquino used the 25th anniversary of ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol, where De Castro serves as news anchor, to openly assail the latter, who was then in the audience.