The Malacanang Palace issues an official statement regarding the controversial vow of President Benigno S. Aquino during a campaign sortie in 2013. Pres. Aquino promised earlier that the Light Rail Transit Line-1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension will be completed in 2015.
Once the project will not be completed in 2015 which is just few two days from now before the year ends, he vow to be run over over by a train together with DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya but according to the Palace, the statement shouldn’t be taken literally by the Filipino people.
In a statement released by Malacanang when asked by the media, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said that Aquino’s statement (in 2013 should) not be taken literrally.” Sec. Coloma stated “The President was speaking with a sense of urgency when he announced his desire to see the project ‘within two years’,” Coloma said.
“Any reasonable person would understand this to have been an aspirational statement. Despite the delays, the government continues to pursue the project,” he added.
Just to recall the promised of Pres. Aquino he was quoted as saying “Pagdating naman ng 2015, hindi lang natin mapapabilis ang biyahe mula Baclaran hanggang Bacoor kundi madadagdagan din tayo ng tinatayong 250,000 na pasahero ang maisasakay kada araw dahil sa LRT Line 1 extension. At pag hindi ho nangyari ito, nandiyan po si Secretary Abaya na mangangasiwa ng proyektong to, dalawa na kaming magpapasagasa siguro sa tren,” Aquino said in jest during in a campaign sortie of his senatorial slate in April 2013.
Here’s a Video of Pres. Aquino’s Statement last 2013:
Noynoy at Abaya, magpapasagasa sa tren.
Patok sa publiko, tanong ng taong bayan! Kailan magpapasagasa ng tren sina Sec. Abaya at Pres. Aquino?
Posted by Pres. Ferdinand Emmanuel E. Marcos on Sunday, December 13, 2015