“Paalala lamang po, asahan na po ninyong may mga nagpapanggap at may mga nakikisakay diumano sa ating krusada,” he said in his speech without giving names.
“Matuto po tayong kumilatis ng mga susunod na lider ng bansa upang matiyak na aarangkada tayo sa katuparan n gating mga pangarap at hindi na kailanman lumihis pa,” he added.
At one point, the president even said the electorate should not take their chances on “agimat” or “anting-anting (amulets)” — a statement that could be construed as referring to Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. and his family.
“Huwag po tayong umasa sa tsamba o sa agimat o anting-anting,” Aquino said.
Aquino gave the speech days after the opposition party Lakas-CMD said it is eyeing Revilla, an actor known in some of his popular movies as “Agimat,” as its standard bearer in the 2016 presidential election.
Cavite is a known bailiwick of the Revilla political clan. Revilla’s father, Ramon Revilla Sr., is a former actor and senator popularly known for his movies about amulets. His wife, Lani Mercado, is the incumbent congresswoman of Cavite’s second district while his son, Jolo Revilla, is running for vice governor in the May elections.
The “24 Oras” report by Theresa Andrada said Sen. Revilla did not directly comment on Aquino’s statement and instead greeted the president for his birthday on February 8.
Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, the spokesman for the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) coalition, meanwhile dared Aquino to name names. — KBK, GMA News
