by Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino denied he is being controlled by the Left, rebutting an accusation of Chief Justice Renato Corona that his impeachment is a product of conspiracy between the administration and a faction of the left.
“Tama po ang sinasabing hindi ko ho tangan ng Akbayan at hindi n’yo ako tangan. Tangan tayo ng taumbayan,” Aquino said in his keynote speech.
The President made the brief remark during the 5th Akbayan National Congress held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Akbayan is the group once headed by Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas, which in turn is being accused by Corona of holding sway over the President and the government and leading the moves to oust him.
The President said Akbayan is not a communist group, but a “socialist” one, jestingly adding that Llamas is “sosyal” for wearing long-sleeves in street protests led by Akbayan, and for a wearing suit now that he is in government.
“Alam ho niyo may bumabatikos sa inyong partido, sabi kayo’y komunista. Sabi ko: ‘Hindi ho, sosyalista ho yata.’ Pero si Ronald ho… napansin ko na ho ito noon pang araw e. Habang nagmamartsa kayo, madi-disperse, siya po naka-long sleeves. [laughter] Ngayon po naka-Amerikana na. Kaya ‘yung sosyalista niya, sosyal na yata itong si Ronald,” Aquino said.
'No conspiracy to oust CJ'
In her remarks, Akbayan national spokesperson Risa Hontiveros said there is no conspiracy to oust Corona.
Hontiveros said that in initiating a complaint against Corona at the Ombudsman over his alleged dollar accounts, the group is seeking accountability and pushing for the people’s interest.
“Hindi totoong hawak ng Akbayan ang gobyenro ni PNoy. Mali po ang ganyang kaisipan. Mali din pong isipin na hawak ni PNoy ang Akbayan. Ang totoo po, si PNoy at ang Akbayan ay hawak-hawak ng mamamayan,” Hontiveros said.
Llamas has earlier said that Corona is only “looking for someone else to blame” to fend off the allegations against him in the impeachment trial.
Llamas added that Corona could not accept that he now “stands on the brink of conviction, and possibly further prosecution, because of his own actions."
The President nonetheless reiterated that he shares Akbayan’s goal of seeking accountability in government, among other advocacies.
“Makakaasa naman kayo bilang inyong kasangga, ako po ay kasama ninyong maninilbihan nang may malasakit, katapatan, at wagas na hangaring ibangon ang atin pong bayan,” Aquino said.
This is the reason why, he said, he has invited Risa Hontiveros to become part of the Liberal Party’s senatorial lineup for the 2013 elections.
Meantime, Hontiveros, in her speech, echoed a quote attributed to Rep. Erin Tañada, noting that people who found themselves in trouble with the law have clung to a wheelchair.
“Totoo ata ang nabasa ko sa Twitter at salamat sa nakaisip nito. ‘Ang kawatang nagigipit, sa wheelchair kumakapit.’ Baka magka-shortage tayo ng wheelchair,” Hontiveros said.
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino denied he is being controlled by the Left, rebutting an accusation of Chief Justice Renato Corona that his impeachment is a product of conspiracy between the administration and a faction of the left.
“Tama po ang sinasabing hindi ko ho tangan ng Akbayan at hindi n’yo ako tangan. Tangan tayo ng taumbayan,” Aquino said in his keynote speech.
The President made the brief remark during the 5th Akbayan National Congress held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Akbayan is the group once headed by Presidential Political Adviser Ronald Llamas, which in turn is being accused by Corona of holding sway over the President and the government and leading the moves to oust him.
The President said Akbayan is not a communist group, but a “socialist” one, jestingly adding that Llamas is “sosyal” for wearing long-sleeves in street protests led by Akbayan, and for a wearing suit now that he is in government.
“Alam ho niyo may bumabatikos sa inyong partido, sabi kayo’y komunista. Sabi ko: ‘Hindi ho, sosyalista ho yata.’ Pero si Ronald ho… napansin ko na ho ito noon pang araw e. Habang nagmamartsa kayo, madi-disperse, siya po naka-long sleeves. [laughter] Ngayon po naka-Amerikana na. Kaya ‘yung sosyalista niya, sosyal na yata itong si Ronald,” Aquino said.
'No conspiracy to oust CJ'
In her remarks, Akbayan national spokesperson Risa Hontiveros said there is no conspiracy to oust Corona.
Hontiveros said that in initiating a complaint against Corona at the Ombudsman over his alleged dollar accounts, the group is seeking accountability and pushing for the people’s interest.
“Hindi totoong hawak ng Akbayan ang gobyenro ni PNoy. Mali po ang ganyang kaisipan. Mali din pong isipin na hawak ni PNoy ang Akbayan. Ang totoo po, si PNoy at ang Akbayan ay hawak-hawak ng mamamayan,” Hontiveros said.
Llamas has earlier said that Corona is only “looking for someone else to blame” to fend off the allegations against him in the impeachment trial.
Llamas added that Corona could not accept that he now “stands on the brink of conviction, and possibly further prosecution, because of his own actions."
The President nonetheless reiterated that he shares Akbayan’s goal of seeking accountability in government, among other advocacies.
“Makakaasa naman kayo bilang inyong kasangga, ako po ay kasama ninyong maninilbihan nang may malasakit, katapatan, at wagas na hangaring ibangon ang atin pong bayan,” Aquino said.
This is the reason why, he said, he has invited Risa Hontiveros to become part of the Liberal Party’s senatorial lineup for the 2013 elections.
Meantime, Hontiveros, in her speech, echoed a quote attributed to Rep. Erin Tañada, noting that people who found themselves in trouble with the law have clung to a wheelchair.
“Totoo ata ang nabasa ko sa Twitter at salamat sa nakaisip nito. ‘Ang kawatang nagigipit, sa wheelchair kumakapit.’ Baka magka-shortage tayo ng wheelchair,” Hontiveros said.
