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Bacolod City, Philippines Tuesday, February 28, 2012
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Marañon says Escalante’s views
not his, calls PNoy ‘best president’

BY CARLA GOMEZ

Gov Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said President Benigno Aquino III is the best president he has known in his 40 years of public service and the speech delivered by his executive assistant at the 26th EDSA People Power Revolution rites at the Capitol Lagoon Park in Bacolod City does not reflect his or the provincial government’s position.

The governor was referring to the extemporaneous speech of former Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, who represented him at the EDSA rites Saturday organized by the provincial government.

“I will state it here and now that in my 40 years in public service, the best president is Pnoy, kay wala damo kuskus balongos, kon mag commit sa imo tupa dayon (there is not lots of talk, if he commits, it is delivered),” the governor said.

The governor said he only learned of what Escalante said when questioned by the media about it yesterday morning.

“I’ll call his attention, I’ll do something about this. That is not my view he was supposed to read my speech, not to speak about his opinion because he is representing the governor,” Marañon said.

The governor said there are so many affairs happening, public officials cannot go to all of them, so sometimes they have to send representatives.

At the start of his talk Saturday, Escalante had said, “I’m sorry I cannot read this message” and went on to speak extemporaneously.

But yesterday Escalante said that he did not have a prepared speech from the governor, what was handed to him were just notes on whom to acknowledge.

He said he was told to represent the governor who had gone to Manila for a meeting with Transportation and Communication Secretary Mar Roxas on concerns of the province.

At the Saturday rites to commemorate the People Power Revolution that ousted Ferdinand Marcos from power 26 years ago, Escalante said, let’s leave the past behind and start moving forward in order to sustain peace and progress in the country.

The University of St. La Salle Maskara Theatre Ensemble presented a tableau about the assassination of Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., the downfall of President Ferdinand Marcos in a bloodless people power revolution and the election of President Corazon Aquino at the EDSA rites.

Escalante, in his speech, told the performers: ”You were shouting in your presentation, that you will die for the Filipinos. Did you ever know that Ninoy Aquino was a politician? That he was pushed to the wall. But then he died for the Filipino people. But did his son and grandchildren or his family remember what he did? They could not even declare a simple agrarian reform in their own farm, which they declared all over the nation.”

“Let’s stop blaming other people because we cannot move forward as a true nation if we keep on blaming Ferdinand Marcos, Gloria Arroyo, Joseph Estrada, Benigno and Cory Aquino,” he said.

“Nothing will happen to us if keep on doing that. Past is past. Let’s blame ourselves and our present leaders,” he said.

When interviewed by the media about his speech yesterday morning, Escalante said ”hitting the president is different than (sic) saying something what is true.”

“The president right now is performing his duty but then I can see shortcomings because (of) us Filipinos being complacent,” he said.

On the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, Escalante said “did you ever arm your president with the proper tools, you should have amended the Constitution before you voted for him because he supposedly (is) a good and upright president.”

The country will not move forward “if we blame those of the past, justice is not only served in this world but is also served in heaven”, he said.

“If you cannot get proper justice here, get justice when you die,” he said.

He reiterated that while Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. supposedly died for the Filipino people and is honored every year as a new hero, “Simple agrarian reform on their farm cannot even be implemented by his children and grandchildren.”

“Agrarian reform covers all land, no ifs or buts.. no exemption,” he said.

“I am not a Marcos loyalists, I voted for Cory, I admired Ninoy, I listened to all his speech(es) all I want is that that two persons should be honored not just by drama, celebrations, not just by wearing yellow t-shirts but (by) wearing a yellow heart and a transparent mind …,” he said.

He said he just wants the president to know to encourage him to live a high moral ground.

While Escalante’s speech Saturday drew flak from many who disagreed with him, his quote on agrarian reform was also contained in an anonymous text message being circulated by those who agreed with him.*CPG

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