This t-shirt has been distributed in Pampanga in an apparent bid to reconcile former Pres. Arroyo with the Aquino administration.
It shows cartoon depictions of (from right) Pres. Aquino, former presidents, Arroyo, Estrada, Ramos and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. linking arms. Photo by Ding Cervantes
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Politicial allies and other “cabalens” of former Pres. Arroyo have expressed lament over Pres.
Aquino’s State-of-the-Nation alleged focus on the purported anomalies in the past administration which, they said, should be left to the “proper institutions.” This, even as “unity” T-shirts are now being distributed in this province.
The front of the t-shirts display cartoon characters depicting, Pres. Aquino, former presidents Arroyo, Estrada, Ramos and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., linking arms, over the text “Dapat Ganito (This is how it should be).”
Joel Mapiles, spokesperson of Gov. Lilia Pineda, said the t-shirts were from Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo.
However, the mayor could not be reached by phone, as he was reportedly visiting Mrs. Arroyo who was hospitalized at the St. Lukes Medical Center in Taguig City after the President’s SONA last Monday.
“If there was something wrong that happened, although I am not saying there were indeed wrongs done, there is the Ombudsman,” said Pampanga fourth district Rep. Anna York Bondoc in a telephone interview.
She said the President should not personally delve into the allegations against Mrs. Arroyo as “we have enough structures and institutions” to handle such matters.
Bondoc noted that the Ombudsman and Sandiganbayan had proven their capabilities in the plunder case that convicted former Pres. Estrada.
Mrs. Arroyo is now a congresswoman representing Pampanga’s second district.
First district Rep. Carmelo Lazatin urged the President not to focus only on Mrs. Arroyo in the government’s crusade against grant and corruption.
“I am not saying she (Mrs. Arroyo) should not be probed, but the President should also make sure that there is no graft and corruption going on around him,” he said.
He said the President should also focus his efforts on “important programs revolving around food production, employment, exploration of natural resources such as oil, health and education.”
However, Lazatin said that it would not be right to cast unfavorable judgment on the Aquino administration at this time.
“Give him another year, and then we can better judge his performance,” he added.
Sought for reaction on the graft charges being filed against Mrs. Arroyo, Fr. Jun Mercado, parish priest of Lourdes Sur in Angeles City and one of the Capampangan priests who often came to the defense of the former president during her term, merely quoted Lingayan-Dagupan Bishop Socrates Villegas as saying that Aquino “should be a leader who unites, not one who divides.”
Mercado noted that vendetta should not be perceived as a search for justice. Still, he said “I leave it to the President as he can do what he wants.”
Pineda, known as a close ally of Mrs. Arroyo since she first ran for the Senate, could not be reached for comment, but her spokesman said she has always appealed for prayers for the former president.
“Always, she would ask he constituents for prayers so that former Pres. Arroyo would stay strong in the trials now facing her.
“The governor also often would stress that the former president did a lot for Pampanga,” Mapiles said.
In interviews earlier, Mrs. Arroyo’s eldest son, partylist Rep. Mikey Arroyo announced he and his family would not attend the SONA.
“We’re only human. Why would we attend the SONA when my mother and her administration will again be the agenda? I hope you understand,” Mikey told reporters.
“It’s also hard that the President will use the SONA which is supposed to be an occasion to call for unity, to lambast my mother,” he said.
