"She's got balls."
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has expressed his admiration for actress Kris Aquino as she bared the status of her health condition.
Locsin said this after Aquino revealed that she was diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and that she is set to go to Houston, Texas, for treatment.
Medical journals defined EGPA as a disease caused by inflammation in certain types of cells in the blood or tissues and can affect many organs.
In a series of tweets, Locsin likened the talk show host to her late brother, former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, for their courage amid health issues.
"She's got balls, like her brother who didn't like me, but he had balls. He refused a transplant; he wouldn't live off someone else's health. It's just the way they are," he said Saturday, June 4.
She’s got balls, like her brother who didn’t like me but he had balls. He refused a transplant; he wouldn’t live off someone else’s health. It’s just the way they are. https://t.co/eC5WYEC4VQ
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 4, 2022
She echoed the sentiments of Filipinos online, who commended Aquino for being one of the biggest taxpayers in the country.
"In a country of tax evaders," Locsin said in response to a tweet saying Aquino "pays her taxes honestly and religiously."
In a country of tax evaders. https://t.co/mglMBrSl2w
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 4, 2022
Locsin likewise asked for understanding after a netizen wondered why people hate Aquino despite her financially supporting foundations and hospitals quietly.
"Try to understand, these are losers and also, well, shall we say, aesthetically challenged," he said.
Try to understand, these are losers and also, well, shall we say, aesthetically challenged. https://t.co/aoRvjzdLMN
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 4, 2022
The veteran journalist also defended the Aquinos after a netizen accused them, including Kris, of being "land-grabbers" after she served as a board director of Central Azucarera de Tarlac.
"They didn't steal that land—Fortune magazine called it the biggest plantation owned by a single family; they bought it for a fortune they could fully account for. Their money came from rice milling," Locsin said.
They didn’t steal that land—Fortune magazine called it the biggest plantation owned by a single family; they bought it for a fortune they could fully account for. Their money came from rice milling. https://t.co/80EIhachQo
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 4, 2022
Locsin's closeness to the Aquinos is no public secret. In a series of tweets during the late Senator Ninoy Aquino's death anniversary last year, Locsin posted photos of Aquino with his mother and father in the United States of America. He also recalled where he and Ninoy were during the Plaza Miranda bombing on August 21, 1971, and what they did after the incident 50 years ago.
With my dad in New York to say goodbye. My dad said, “Don’t go; Marcos may send a limousine to fetch you plane side for everyone to see and get the idea you made a deal. Our fucking people will vilify you without waiting for you to explain.” Where I got my verbal manners. pic.twitter.com/KKW6lXP6JD
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 21, 2021
Ninoy & I had seats on that stage. He & I were late; he at a party for goddaughter, me on a date. When I got out of Avenue theater people were running around in panic. That night we faced off w/ Enrile in a televised debate. Ninoy had a BAR on his lap daring JPE to arrest him. pic.twitter.com/oaMwV853zH
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) August 21, 2021