MANILA, Philippines – At the launch of the government’s latest initiative to improve the worsening traffic in the Metro, President Benigno Aquino III could not help but slam Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr, two days after Revilla accused Aquino’s administration of crooked justice and failing to fix the country’s problems.

Aquino on Wednesday, January 22, led the groundbreaking of the Skyway Stage 3, which will run from Buendia, Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City.

Malacañang called the project “a tangible sign of the progress,” a project Aquino said is part of his “straight and narrow path” – the platform the President ran on to represent a just, and honest government ideal.

As he hailed the initiative, Aquino also took the opportunity to hit Revilla, taking a dig at the actor-turned-senator’s fantasy television show “Panday (The Blacksmith).”

“Para naman sa mga paulit-ulit na nagtatanong, at sinasadyang magbulag-bulagan sa mga nararating na nating tagumpay: Ito po ang daang matuwid. Hindi pinanday ng pantasya, at mas lalong hindi gawa-gawa na parang eksena sa isang pelikula—totoo at kongkretong mga proyekto ang hatid ng ating tuwid at mabuting pamamahala para sa kapakanan ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he said.

(As for those who have repeatedly asked and have intentionally turned a blind eye to what we’ve accomplished: This is the straight and narrow path. It was not fabricated by fantasy nor is it made up like a scene in a movie – it’s a real and concrete project that is brought by our honest and good government for the benefit of the Filipino people).

“Anumang pilit ng ilang magpapogi at magpabida para sa pansariling interes lang, ay wala pa ring makakapigil sa kolektibo nating pag-arangkada bilang isang bayan,” he added.

(No matter how hard some try to look good and become a star just for their own interests, no one will be able to halt our collective progress as one nation).

Revilla was nicknamed “Pogi (good-looking)” by whistleblowers who tagged him as pocketing billions of government funds from his Priority Development and Assistance Fund (PDAF). In a privilege speech on Tuesday, Revilla denied the accusations and said he never had any dealings with the whistleblowers.

His hour-long speech – described by netizens as “award-winning” – blasted Aquino’s administration supposed poor performance, alleged special treatment of its allies, and persecution of its political rivals. Revilla also accused Aquino of meddling with the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Aquino has denied trying to influence Revilla and other senators to vote for Corona’s conviction. The Skyway launch was the first time Aquino hit back since Revilla’s speech. – Rappler.com