MANILA, Philippines – Be truthful.

This is the advice given by President Benigno Aquino III to his former ally Senator Grace Poe, saying that if she has to criticize the administration, she has to stick to the facts.

A day after Poe declared her presidential bid and announced her 20-point platform, Aquino said Poe should not over promise.

“’Yung pangako natin ilagay din natin sa katotohanan. Huwag nating ipangako ‘yung, ‘di ba, langit at saka mga estrella at saka ‘yung buwan, kung hindi naman natin talaga kayang abutin ‘yon. Galangin natin ang mga taong pinagmumulan ng kapangyarihan, nagbibigay ng mandato, ang ating mga boss, na ibigay sa kanila ang katotohanan.” Aquino told reporters on Thursday, September 17.

(Our promises should be based on truth. Let’s not promise the heavens, the stars, and the moon if we really can’t reach them. Let us respect the people from whom power emanates, the ones who provide the mandate, our bosses, and give them the truth.)

Thankful

Aquino said he received a lengthy message from the neophyte senator on Tuesday night, informing him of her decision to run for president.

He said he was delighted to receive an “explanation” from Poe, even as she declined his and the ruling Liberal Party’s invitation for her to be the running mate of administration standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

The President shared a part of Poe’s message. He said Poe supposedly assured him that she would never “attack” him during the campaign.

“Ano ang isasagot ko? E ‘di siyempre, nagpapasalamat ako, at sa akin naman kung talagang kailangan na ako ay i-criticize bakit hindi? Basta ilagay natin sa tamang lugar, sa tamang konteksto, at ‘yung nakabase sa katotohanan,” Aquino said.

(What do I say in response? But of course, I am thankful, and for me, if I really need to be criticized, then why not? So long as it is done at the right place, in the right context, and is based on truth.)

Poe and Aquino met several times in the past but failed to reach an agreement. Aquino and the LP wanted Poe, the presidential preference surveys front runner, to run for vice president instead, saying she is still “unripe.”

In 2010, he appointed Poe chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. He also adopted Poe and Senator Francis Escudero in the administration slate in 2013.

‘Monopoly’

In an apparent swipe at critics of the administration, Poe, in her declaration speech, reiterated that no single group has a “monopoly” over Daang Matuwid (straight path). (READ: Grace Poe: I offer myself as your president.)

Aquino seemed fine with this, even as he challenged Poe to identify what they would improve in the administration’s policies.

The President said he is thankful that Poe credited him for the fight against corruption, which Poe is also pushing for.

“So tayo ay nagpapasalamat, ano. Binigyan naman tayo ng kredito, kunwari, sa paglaban sa mga tiwali. Kung talagang ‘yon ang pakay po nila na ipagpatuloy, bakit naman natin ikakagalit ‘yon? At ang taumbayan ang magdedesisyon sa tamang oras kung sino ba talaga ang magpapatuloy ‘nung ating pagtahak dito sa ‘daang matuwid,” Aquino said.

(So let us be thankful. We were given some credit, for example, in the fight against the corrupt. If that is what they intend to continue, why would we be angered by that? It will be the people who will decide at the right time who will continue to tread the straight path.) – Rappler.com