MANILA, Philippines – TV host and actress Kris Aquino came to the defense of her brother President Benigno Aquino III, who was mentioned by Sen. Bong Revilla in his privilege speech at the Senate on Monday, June 9.

“I want to respect what the family is going through but I also have to respect my family and my brother. And to this day, 72% of the Philippines, of the Filipino citizens say that he enjoys the trust and the support of the people,” Kris said during the Monday telecast of her show Aquino and Abunda Tonight.

“This is not an issue about P-Noy and his presidency. This is an issue about the pork barrel, na thank God, walang kinalaman si Noy doon at malinis ang konsensya ng kapatid ko kaya malakas ang loob niya na isulong ang paglilinis ng gobyerno.”

(This is an issue about the pork barrel which, thank God, Noy has nothing to do with and that my brother’s conscience is clear. That’s why he has the courage to push for a clean government.)

She also reiterated that “silence is better than BS,” pertaining to the Instagram post she uploaded last June 7.

In his speech, Revilla said: “Hindi tama at hindi maganda na maaalala ka at ang iyong administrasyon sa pagpapakulong lamang ng mga hindi mo kaalyado. Jailing your oppositors should not be the only achievement and legacy you will be leaving behind,” Revilla said.

(It’s not good for you to be remembered just for sending non-allies to jail.)

Revilla also appealed to Aquino to do well in the last two years of his presidency as well as focus on issues the country is facing such as the the Ninoy Aquino International Airport facilities, power crisis in Mindanao to the rehabilitation of Leyte and Samar, and areas hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda.

“Bibihira ang nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na maging pangulo. At mapalad ka Pangulong Aquino. Panguluhan mo ang bansa sa kaunlaran at progreso para huwag masayang ang 6 na taon na ipinagkatiwala sa iyo. Napakasaklap na mahusgahan ka ng kasaysayan bilang isang tinimbang ngunit nagkulang.”

(It’s a rare opportunity to be President of the Philippines. You are fortunate Mr. President. Lead the country in progress so that the 6 years will not be wasted. It is terrible to be weighed by history and to be found wanting.)  

Watch Revilla’s speech here.

Watch Revilla’s music video here.

– Rappler.com