Aquino

But opposition congressmen were disappointed. They scoffed at the Chief Executive’s failure to address more pressing issues and his letdown in certifying as urgent the Reproductive Health and the Freedom of Information bills.

House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said he would counter the President’s SoNA in his “ledger” that will be presented Tuesday (July 26) in which he would highlight the shortcomings of the Aquino administration.

“Failures are heavier than the accomplishments,” he said.  read more »

(UPDATE 2, 1:35 p.m.) Manila, Philippines - President Aquino and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday separately said they saw no need to apologize to the Catholic Church over government inquiries into PCSO funds and resources being released to the bishops and dioceses. The President said he sees no reason to say sorry, even amidst a palpably deteriorating relationship with Catholic leaders. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. echoed the President's stance.  read more »

MANILA -- A party-list lawmaker on Friday dared President Benigno Aquino III to use his presidential powers and order the Supreme Court (SC) to review its decision over the Hacienda Luisita case.

SC justices earlier voted to revoke the stock distribution plan and ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform to conduct a new referendum on the issue.  read more »

Third referendum favoring Cojuangcos, Aquinos

Gabriela Women's partylist Rep. Emerciana de Jesus said that the SC ruling is actually the third referendum that "favored the Cojuangcos and the Aquinos."  read more »

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker today scored President Benigno Aquino III for seeking the support of the US in the Spratly Islands dispute without exhausting all diplomatic means with China.

“The Philippine Constitution is not at all ambiguous in asserting national sovereignty and an independent foreign policy. It is therefore highly inappropriate for the Aquino Administration to immediately seek the support of US on the Spratly claim dispute,” Gabriela Rep. Emmi de Jesus said in a statement.  read more »

President Aquino took a leaf from his predecessor, former President Arroyo, now Pampanga congresswoman, as he shrugged off the steady drop in popularity ratings, claiming he would rather be right than popular. Aquino yesterday shrugged off the latest drop of five points as indicated by the June 3 to 6 survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS) and insisted that survey ratings don’t matter as long as he knows he is doing well in running the affairs of the State.  read more »