99.93% ‘unlike’ Revilla’s speech, Palace gloats

Philippine Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. pauses during his privilege speech at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on Monday, June 9, 2014. Philippine government prosecutors filed corruption charges last week against Revilla and two other senators who allegedly received hundreds of millions of pesos (millions of dollars) in kickbacks from funds allocated for projects for the poor. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

MANILA, Philippines–Some netizens cringed, others found it plain ridiculous.

Saying it had nothing more to add, Malacañang said Tuesday it agreed with the “overwhelming trend” of “negative reactions” to Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.’s unusual privilege speech accompanied by a song number.

“The overwhelming trend is negative and we agree with our bosses,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma told reporters, citing data collated by the Palace’s “new media team.”

Coloma later furnished reporters copies of the new media team’s report. It showed that 99.93 percent of 2,751 social media accounts surveyed gave negative reactions to Revilla’s speech. He did not say whether the survey’s methodology was scientific.

Coloma rejected Revilla’s suggestion that the President was governing with “hatred” toward his political enemies.

“In all surveys among Filipinos, they expressed their trust in his leadership. And considering how high they have rated him, I don’t think it’s reasonable to arrive at that conclusion,” he said.

In an emotional privilege speech, Revilla on Monday said Mr. Aquino should “lead this country, not with hatred, but with love.”

“Lead the country toward unity and not partisanship. Push our nation’s interest and not political agenda,” said the senator, who was anticipating his arrest soon following the filing of plunder charges against him in the Sandiganbayan.

Also facing similar charges in connection with the pork barrel scam were Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, and five others.

Coloma shrugged off Revilla’s speech, saying “we prefer at this time to focus and devote our energies and efforts to doing our duties and to pursuing the reform programs of government.”

Unemployment rate down

He cited the National Economic Development Authority report showing that the unemployment rate dropped to 7 percent last April compared to 7.6 percent during the same period last year.

Underemployment was also down from 19.2 to 18.2 percent during the same time span.

“That is the kind of focus that we want to concentrate on and we believe that our energies are better spent in that manner,” Coloma said.

“This growth has brought about a total of 1.7 million additional employed persons.”

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