President Aquino airs a speech on Wednesday night

Facebook Page of Pres. Benigno Aquino III

On Wednesday evening, President Benigno Aquino III aired a speech over television and radio stations, emphasizing that the real issue is no less than—stealing.

The following statements were the excerpts from the speech that was e-mailed to media shortly after the President finished speaking:

“Might I remind those who have forgotten: The real issue here is stealing. This is the topic they have constantly tried to avoid ever since their wrongdoing was exposed.”

“Since it is exceedingly difficult to explain, it seems they have taken the advice of an old politician from their camp: If you can’t explain it, muddle it; if you can’t deodorize it, make everyone else stink; if you can’t look good, make everyone look bad. You have heard what they are saying: that we are all the same.”

“My response: We are not the same. I have never stolen. I am not a thief. I am the one who goes after thieves. We appointed people of unquestionable integrity who are fulfilling their sworn duties. Did we not appoint the Commission on Audit leadership that reviewed the documents leading to the discovery of PDAF abuse? And now, can we not expect a fair and just investigation, because the Ombudsman we appointed walks alongside us along the straight path?”

“DAP were funds saved from “efforts to stop the connivance of some in bidding for contracts, in padding costs, overpricing, and kickbacks.”

“Through DAP, we were able to construct infrastructure in Mindanao and other parts of the country, restore the benefits of DepEd employees by paying their GSIS premiums, which had long been unpaid by the government, and fund many other programs and projects that have a real, tangible benefit to Filipinos. According to the World Bank, DAP contributed 1.3 percentage points to our GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2011.”

“For example: we needed funds to provide assistance to the families of soldiers and policemen who fell in the line of duty while responding to the threat posed by the MNLF-Misuari Faction in Zamboanga. There were also those who fell in the course of rescue and relief operations in the wake of Typhoon Sendong. The PSF funded these; without it, without calamity or contingency funds, they would have continued to suffer.”

At the end of the speech, he also thanked the Filipinos:

“No matter how foul the slander and the sabotage, you never let go, you never gave up. Together we proved that there are no tyrants if there are no slaves. Now, those who have abused our trust want to cast us off the course towards the fulfillment of our collective aspirations. I do not believe that you will let this pass. And so long as you are with me, I will continue to stand for our principles.”

“Today, there are so many of us who are collectively forging the positive and meaningful changes that are taking place in society. I have every confidence that you will more actively choose to be on the side of what is right, what is truthful, and what is just. This is why I am thankful today, because I know that we will continue our march on the straight path.”