President Benigno S. Aquino III took the opportunity to attack the three presidential candidates during the proclamation rally of the Liberal Party’s local candidates in the city of Manila. The President speak out against the three presidential candidates, Mayor Rody Duterte, VP Binay and Sen. Grace Poe. Pres. Aquino also endorsed Alfredo Lim for mayor and Rep. Benjamin Asilo for vice mayor.
During the speech of Pres. Aquino, he accused Mayor Rody Duterte of planning to resort to a “shortcut” if he wins the presidency, citing the statement of the Davao City mayor wherein he stated that his term would be “bloody,” as he intends to order the killing of all criminals.
“Ibig sabihin ho ba ng mga katagang ‘yun na kanyang binigkas, siya ang tutukoy, siya ang huhusga at siya rin ang magpaparusa? Bawal ba sa kanyang palakad ang magkakaroon ng kontra opinyon? At siya lang ang tama sa lahat ng pagkakataon? Kung ganyan nga po ang sinasabi niya, ako na ho ba dapat ang medyo kabahan?” Aquino said.
The President also questioned the plan of Sen. Grace Poe to name former Marine Colonel Ariel Querubin as anti-crime czar despite the fact that there are rumors spreading online that the senator was his secret candidate. Pres. Aquino was quoted as saying “Hindi ba hindi naman inaaresto ng sundalo ang kalabang sundalo? At kung may nahuhuling sundalo, pwersado silang sumuko dahil natalo na po sila. Si Colonel Querubin o, may kakayahan, totoo, pero angkop ba siya sa trabaho?” Aquino said.
Pres. Aquino also criticized VP Binay for not answering charges of corruption leveled against him and for claiming to have reduced poverty in Makati during his term. The President previously considered VP Binay as one of his closest ally in fact, the former Makati City mayor was one of former Pres. Cory Aquino’s appointed public officials.
The President was quoted as saying “Nasa poder siya nang pagkatagal-tagal, pero ngayong ang daming kumukwestyon sa kanya. Ako naman po, tignan ninyo ako, wala akong tinataguang tanong o tinatakbuhang isyu. Doon po sigurado tayong nagkakaiba [tayo].