What set him off?
President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was believed to have taken potshots anew at former Vice President Noli L. de Castro for being so negative against his administration’s reform agenda despite the broadcaster’s previous stint in government.
“In a visit to De Castro’s home province of Oriental Mindoro, the President warned the public against their ‘Kabayan’ who not only hurls negative comments but also helped worsen the country’s problems,” reports Genalyn D. Kabiling in Tempo.
Although Aquino did not mention De Castro by name in his speech, it was clear whom he meant when he referred to “a former government official who’s identified by the moniker, ‘Kabayan.'”
The report noted: “De Castro, who hails from Pola, Oriental Mindoro, returned to his television and radio work after his six-year stint as Vice President during the Arroyo administration. He is, indeed, popularly called Kabayan.”
These are Aquino exact, untranslated, words: “Meron po diyan, ganado pang magkomento ng negatibo, gayong kasama naman sila sa mga naging pinuno ng bansa. Imbes na maibsan ang pagdurusa ng nasasakupan, pinalala pa ito. At ngayon, bagaman tinutugunan na natin ang mga problemang ipinamana sa atin, hindi pa rin nagsawa sa paghirit ang itinuturing kayong ‘Kabayan.'”
ABS-CBN News photo
