By Raymund Antonio
Responding to President Duterte’s latest remark about late President Cory Aquino, Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said Aquino’s efforts to institute good governance matters more than her popularity.
Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Hindi siguro nagmamater kung paano nakilala, iyong nagmamater noong binigyan ng pagkakataon makapagsilbi, papaano nagsilbi,” Robredo said on her “BISErbisyong Leni” radio show.
(It doesn’t matter how she became known, what matters is how she served in government when she was given the opportunity.)
“Pinakatanong noong nabigyan ng pagkakataon, papaano ginamit ‘yung kapangyarihan na binigay sa kanya. Alam nating lahat na siya din 'yung halimbawa na hindi nag-abuso sa kapangyarihang binigay,” she added.
(The main question is when she had the chance to serve, how did she use the power given to her? We all know that she was also the example of an official who did not abuse her power.)
The Vice President remembered Aquino for bringing back democracy in the country after the dictatorship of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.
“Maalala kasi siya dahil iyong administrasyon niya iyong turning point ng pag-regain ng ating demokrasya, ng ating mga democratic institutions kaya napakalaki contribution niya sa ating bansa,” she said.
(We can remember her because her administration was the turning point to regain democracy and democratic institutions, which was her big contribution to the country.)
Cory, widow of former opposition senator Ninoy Aquino Jr., was catapulted into the presidency after the 1986 Power Power Revolution that toppled the Marcos regime.
Her husband was assassinated on Aug. 21, 1983 at the airport tarmac on his return from exile in the United States.
A day after her family and supporters marked her 10th death anniversary last Thursday, Duterte said Aquino only became popular after losing Ninoy, and her legacy was an “incongruity.”
"Cory Aquino may be popular. She is popular today. Why? For losing the husband in the hands of Mr. Marcos," he said.
In a tribute to the democracy icon, Robredo said she unveiled a classroom building donated by the Aklat, Gabay, Aruga tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa Foundation Inc., of which Aquino’s daughter Pinky is a member, in Calatagan, Batangas on her death anniversary.
“Iyong dating Pangulong Cory Aquino, ‘yun inspiration ko sa pagpasok sa gobyerno kaya may meaningful kami ginawa in her memory,” Robredo said.
(The former President Cory Aquino was my inspiration when I entered politics so we did something meaningful in her memory.)