"We had gold in our hands."
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the country could have received its first Nobel Peace Prize years ago with the late former President Corazon Aquino but said her people were so "full of it" that they never tried to get it for her.
Locsin made the statement after the Norwegian Nobel Committee decided to award the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to Rappler Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maria Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace".
In a series of tweets, Locsin said Ressa was lucky to have been awarded one of the most coveted recognitions in the world because she had good people surrounding her, unlike the country's first female president.
"It was a fight and she won. No other way to look at it," he said.
"Maria is lucky; she has real allies and supporters," he added.
It was a fight and she won. No other way to look at it. Cory did not get the Nobel Peace Prize for the first & most successful peaceful people power democratic restoration in the history of humanity. We failed Cory. We had gold in our hands and we couldn’t get the Prize for her. https://t.co/KsRapTbGkH
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) October 8, 2021
According to Locsin, Aquino failed to get the Nobel Peace Prize for "the first and most successful peaceful people power democratic restoration in the history of humanity" because her people did not even bother to do so.
"It isn’t about her. It is as it was about her people—so full of themselves they never even tried to clinch it for her and it was suggested by US media we make the effort," he said.
"She had a Cabinet of conceited self-centered assholes," added the outspoken official.
It isn’t about her. It is as it was about her people—so full of themselves they never even tried to clinch it for her and it was suggested by US media we make the effort. She had a Cabinet of conceited self-centered assholes. Maria is lucky; she has real allies and supporters. https://t.co/RlhpjoyqKX
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) October 8, 2021
Locsin said that it was the Filipinos who failed the late Aquino matriarch.
"We failed Cory. We had gold in our hands and we couldn’t get the Prize for her," he said.
"We failed Cory. Period. And we had the world in our hands," said Locsin, who served as the late president's legal counsel and speechwriter.
We failed Cory. Period. And we had the world in our hands. https://t.co/IxKIvTdYpX
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) October 8, 2021