Tarlac mayor responds to criticisms on alleged disrespect of Ninoy's statue
TARLAC CITY, Tarlac---Mayor Cristy Angeles practically dismissed on Saturday, April 2 the criticisms stemming from the treatment of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.'s statue at the city plaza here during a UniTeam mini-rally.

During the rally of the administration ticket, the face of the statue was blocked with a tent, as if to prevent it from seeing what was happening in front of it.
Asked to comment on the harsh reactions from social media over the tent usage, Angeles said in an ambush interview after the rally: "Pabayaan na natin yung mga bumabatikos (Let's leave the critics alone). It’s time for forgiveness and healing."
"Mag-u-unite tayo (We are going to unite)," the lady mayor added, echoing UniTeam presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos's usual campaign spiel.
Earlier in the rally, Angeles declared that the quarrel between poltical colors in Tarlac was over and that it was time for everyone to move on.
While the crowd filled the city plaza here, the Saturday rally wasn't as impressive in attendance compared to the massive audiences that gathered during the rallies from the recent Mindanao leg of the UniTeam campaign.
Palace aspirant Marcos's father, the late strongman President Ferdinand Marcos, was the political rival of the late Senator Aquino.
The Marcoses hail from up north in Ilocos Norte.