President Benigno Aquino III. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Netizens virtually slapped President Aquino for repeatedly defending the legality of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) in his speech aired nationwide on Wednesday night.
But a good number of them also hailed him, even urging him to continue pursuing his goals of battling corruption under his policy of daang matuwid (straight path).
Reactions to and comments on the President’s speech made #President Aquino, DAP and Pnoy the trending topics on Wednesday night.
Among the critics were those who initiated the Million People March at Luneta in Manila on Aug. 26, which called for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), pork barrel or lump-sum funds that finance pet projects of lawmakers.
“He didn’t get it. #MillionPeopleMarch #ScrapPork aren’t against him but the system!” said advertising executive Peachy Bretaña, who used the Twitter name (@peachybrets).
“Did we ever accuse (anyone) of stealing? You are tolerating a system prone to abuse #scrapPork,” said blogger Noem Lardizabal-Dado, who uses the Twitter name @momblogger.
Netizen The Chief Jester thought the speech was a waste of airtime. “P-Noy could’ve declared an earthshaking policy, but no. He delivered a speech that could’ve been delivered in a breakfast club meeting.”
Bienvenido Castro said the President appeared to have overreacted. “No one has accused him of thievery (yet). But, the system within which he worked is conducive to corruption; this should go! We agree that the guilty should be punished,” he posted on the Inquirer Facebook.
“I think we should try; not cry wolf at the first instance of danger that we have unconsciously created.”
Cheering the President, Voltaire Nada Beniga said: “Very well said! P-Noy is not a thief. Any moves to destroy P-Noy will fail! Doomsayers won’t succeed! The Filipino people are with P-Noy! Taga nyo sa bato.”
Netizen @iwantlawrence chimed in. “Indeed, very well said. Do not underestimate the President and what he is capable of.”
Addressing Aquino by his pet name, Gerald Abueva posted this: “Noynoy: I’m not a thief. But there’s no honor among thieves. So you can’t take my word for it.”
A certain Garote responded, “No, no P-Noy is not a thief … he is not a small thief, but a big time embezzler of public funds by billions of pesos.”
“Ikaw si Sir Thief … Be Careful With My DAP and PDAF hihihi!” Facebook user Adelina Duenas commented.
Netizen erica compared Aquino’s speech with that of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s apology for the Hello Garci scandal: “Version ni Porknoy ng Hello Garci Am Sorry ni GMA? Buti na lang di na naman sinisi si GMA.”
For someone called Beguine the more Aquino says he is not a thief, the more he looks and becomes one.
“What do you call the P50M ‘reward’ to senators in the Corona removal anything if not plain and simple thievery?” the comment read.—With a report from Ramon Royandoyan
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