The Palace countered Vice President Jejomar Binay’s statements on Saturday after he said the administration is laying the groundwork for the imposition of martial rule in the country with its agenda of continuing “Daang Matuwid.”
The vice president appears to be putting color on the administration’s statement that the country needs three administrations adhering to good governance to make the Philippines truly progressive.
“Hindi tama o makatuwirang sabihin na si Pangulong Aquino o ang Liberal Party ay naglalatag ng paghahanda para sa diktadurya,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a radio interview on Saturday.
“Batid ng lahat na ang matuwid na daan ay batay sa mga prinsipyo ng EDSA People Power revolution na nagbigay-daan sa pagbabalik ng demokrasya sa ating bansa mula sa diktadurya at Martial Law,” he told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
Coloma said the continuation of “Daang Matuwid” depends on the decision of the Filipino people and the Aquino administration will do everything to ensure that the country’s electorate could choose a new set of leaders in an orderly and fair election next year.
“Ang proyekto ng pamahalaan ay higit pang patatagin ang mga institusyon ng demokrasya sa pamamagitan ng isang hayag at may pananagutang pamamahala (open, transparent, and accountable government),” he said.
“Ito ang marka ng isang masiglang demokrasya na pinatatatag ng mga malayang mamamayan.”
President Aquino has called on his bosses, the Filipino people, to continue supporting “Daang Matuwid,” so that the transformation of Philippine society, built on good governance during his administration, may be brought to its full fruition.
Like his parents, the President is a staunch advocate of democracy, in which the most important element is the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another through the conduct of orderly and credible elections, Coloma noted.
Coloma also belied Binay’s allegations that President Aquino undermined the country’s judicial system and the Office of the Vice President, saying that in fact, the President helped to strengthen them.
Binay’s allegations have no basis because on the contrary the Supreme Court supported all the legislative initiatives to strengthen the judicial system, he said.
The prosecutorial arm of the government under the Department of Justice was also strengthened to improve the criminal justice system.
“Pinapalakas din po natin ang ating prison o correction system, bahagi din po ito ng sistema ng batas,” he said.
With regards to the Office of the Vice President, the President Aquino respected and supported Vice President Binay and in his five years as Cabinet member, he has not received criticism from the public.
Coloma also answered Binay’s statement on SAF 44 after he said the policemen who perished in Mamasapano were not recognized during an event in Camp Crame on Friday.
“Nais po nating ipunto na sa marami nang pagkakataon ay kinilala ni Pangulong Aquino ang kabayanihan at ang kagitingan at katapangan ng atin SAF 44,” Coloma said.
“Binigyan po sila ng kinauukulang pagkilala ng ating Pangulo noon pa po. Hindi po naghintay ng mahabang panahon para kilalanin sila.”
He added that the administration did everything to help the families of SAF 44, providing them with livelihood, scholarships, housing, and employment. PND (as) |