President Rodrigo Duterte downplayed the legacy of former President Corazon Aquino who’s known for leading the People Power Revolution in 1986 to topple the Marcos Administration.

In a speech before the agrarian reform beneficiaries in Davao City, Duterte said that Cory Aquino only became popular after his husband, former Senator Ninoy Aquino passed away.

“Cory Aquino may be popular. She is popular today. Why? For losing the husband in the hands of [late President Ferdinand] Marcos,” Duterte said.

He also criticized the agrarian reform program of Aquino, saying that she decided to distribute millions of hectares of land around the country, except Hacienda Luisita.

Hacienda Luisita is the biggest plantation in Tarlac province thaw was owned by the Cojuangco and Aquino family.

In 2011, the Supreme Court decision said that 4,915 hectares of Hacienda Luisita should be distributed to 6,296 beneficiaries of the land reform program by Aquino.

“Aquino declared land reform for the entire Philippines but exempted Doña Luisita, her own land,” Duterte said.

“She said, ‘I would like to declare land reform in all of the Philippines.’ … She exempted her [land]… So you call her what? The one who freed, emancipated… It’s incongruity, they call it,” he added.

Cory only entered politics after her husband passed away and led the Filipinos to a bloodless revolution in EDSA.

She’s also the first woman President of the Philippines who served from 1986 to 1992.

Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, son of Cory Aquino also became the President of the country, one year after the latter passed away.

A blogger who graduated at the University of the Philippines – Diliman criticized his alma over the news that former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV would become a professor in UP.

In a social media post, Benedict Exconde wrote an open letter addressed to the UP Board of Regents and other officials of the said University to express his disappointment over their decision to accept Trillanes as one of their future educators

Exconde pointed out that Trillanes, a former soldier who once led a coup against the government should not be part of UP.

He believes that the people who hated Trillanes might also detest said University.

“It is a disservice and a disgrace for our alma mater to employ an individual who has repeatedly tried to overthrow and undermine the authority of a legitimately elected government, and openly disrespected the will of the majority of the Filipino people,” said Exconde.

“Do we really want to the masses to lose their respect towards UP by taking such a sorry route, or perhaps all of you are contented to seeing UP being the symbol of the same obstructionist and opportunist forces that the said person now represents?” he added.

As of writing, Exconde post already received 200 shares on social media site Facebook.

On Tuesday, Trillanes revealed that he would spend his free time to teach in UP and Ateneo De Manila.

“More relaxing life after the Senate and right now, I am preparing for my teaching work this coming semester,” Trillanes said.

“It is in UP [University of the Philippines-Diliman] and Ateneo [de Manila University],” he added.

Senator Panfilo Lacson sided with President Rodrigo Duterte after his decision to appoint ex-military officials was questioned by Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Richard Gordon.

According to Lacson, Senators like Gordon, who’s part of the legislative branch should not try to interfere with the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte who lead the executive section of the government.

“My take is, sabi ko kanina let’s give it to the President. He has the prerogative to appoint presidential appointees. Para paghimasukan pa natin yan, labas na tayo sa border natin, sa dapat saklaw ng ating mandate as legislators,” Lacson said.

In another statement, Lacson said that professional background is not a basis if the government official would serve well to the people.

“Without sounding biased since I also came from the AFP and the police, what if those appointees would also question the wisdom of appointing too many lawyers in government? What is important is the competence and integrity of those appointees and not their professional background,” Lacson said.

On Wednesday, Gordon said that Duterte’s decision to appoint retired army Generals in the government is “dangerous”.

“Ang problema lang kay Presidente, mababaw ang bench nya. He comes from the province, hindi niya nakilala. So, mas nagre-rely siya sa military,” Gordon said in a statement.

“It’s a dangerous one because civilian authority must remain supreme over the military. Dapat 3 years muna bago ka i-appoint.. para mawala muna yung ties mo. The ties that bind,” he added.

As a response, Duterte criticized Gordon and called him a fake Filipino and Penguin.

The President also suggested to the Senator to mind his own business.

Senator Richard Gordon didn’t try to exchange tirades with President Rodrigo Duterte after the latter called him “fake-Filipino” and “Penguin” during a speech Thursday.

In a statement, Gordon said that his comments on Duterte’s decision to appoint ex-military men in the Cabinet “were made in good faith and out of concern for our country and the President.”

“I take no offense at the President’s comments. As I have said, everyone is entitled to an opinion, and we cannot be onion-skinned about such things. I will continue to focus on working hard to serve the country and the people. Our goal as public servants is not any higher office, but to remain steadfast in service to ensure that we uplift the lives of our people, and that is what I try to do every day.” Gordon said.

“I am happy that the President is concerned about my waistline, but he need not worry about that. My wife has seen to it that I have reduced it significantly of late. But I appreciate that he is concerned about my health as I am about his.” he added.

He clarified that he has also big respect to the military but still insist that the government should not be militarized.

“In the Senate and in my entire career, my record speaks for itself. I have always supported a strong military, with a credible air force, navy, and coast guard. I will continue to do so because I believe that we need to strengthen the military in order to protect our country, especially during these challenging times.” Gordon said.

Gordon on Wednesday said that the reason why Duterte is appointing former Generals because of his narrow connections and because of being a “Probinsiyano”.

As a response, Duterte mocked the appearance of Gordon and told him to mind his own business.

“Yung sabi niya na probinsyano ako, sa bagay totoo ‘yan. Pero at least, probinsyano ako, my brain stays in my head. Yung utak mo Dick yung utak mo nagtutunaw, nagpupunta diyan sa tiyan mo. You are a fart away from disaster, intindihin mo muna ‘yung tiyan mo bago ka makialam sa trabaho ko,” Duterte said.

“Take care of your stomach. It’s ugly. You’re just a fart, a heartbeat away from… ‘Yang laki mong ‘yan? ‘Yan ang katawan na mahirap, hindi pwede ambulansya. Karga ninyo sa truck ninyo,” he added.

A member of the Manila Traffic And Parking Bureau has gone viral on Facebook after he decided to continue his job in assisting the motorist despite the harsh weather on Friday.

Netizen Laurice Gel Mariano posted the photo of traffic enforcer identified as Gilbert Bautista while standing in the middle of the road along Taft Avenue, Malate Manila.

“Salute to this traffic officer. Kahit malakas ang ulan at baha, he’s still doing his job,” Gel Mariano said.

The photo received thousands of positive reactions and shares from the netizens.

However, some netizens expressed their concern on the situation of the said traffic enforcer who doesn’t wear any protection against rain.

“Nakakatakot naman yung lagay ni kuya. Sana mag bota siya atleast,” Netizen Ren Lahing said.

“Sana may mga indivual raincoat at boots ang lahat ng MTPB like kuya para in case na may ganitong sitwasyon may magagamit sila. Hirap magkasakit lalo’t sila lang inaasahn ng pamilya nila,” netizen Drexlene Joie Atienza said.

Another netizen Rens Jiro also posted other MTPB enforcers doing their job despite the bad weather.

Moreno who’s also a social media lover saw the photos posted by Mariano and Jiro. He also praised the enforcers for doing their job despite the bad weather.

“Thank you Traffic Enforcer Gilbert Bautista, May God guide and keep you safe!” Mayor Moreno said.

During his weekly “The Capital Report” Moreno expressed his joy after seeing Bautista doing his job very well, promising that he would give the needs of all traffic enforcers in the future.

However, he said that buying new gears for enforcers are easy because they still need to undergo the process of acquisition.

President Rodrigo Duterte didn’t receive the comment of Sen. Richard Gordon well after the latter calls him a “Probinsiyano” over the decision of the Chief Executive to choose former Generals to become part of his Cabinet.

In his speech on Thursday night during the 28th Founding Anniversary of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Duterte made a lengthy statement against Gordon and called him a fake Filipino.

According to the President, he would prefer to appoint ex-military men than Gordon who’s not honest.

Duterte also explained that appointing ex-military men is “not prohibited in the law”.

“Kung ako ang presidente, at pupunta ako ng Maynila magtrabaho dito, maghanap ako ng tao, kung si Gordon lang naman ang makita ko, mag-resign na lang ako pagka-presidente,” Duterte said.

“Ano raw ang nakita ko sa military? Well, one, sabihin ko sa ‘yo, I can move faster with honesty. Mahirap maghanap ng tao na honest ngayon. Sa isang libo, buti’t na lang kung kasali ka diyan sa dalawa, Gordon,” he added.

He gave advice to Gordon, not to interfere with his work as the President of the Philippines and just mind his own business.

The President even mocked Gordon who’s the leader of Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

“Yung sabi niya na probinsyano ako, sa bagay totoo ‘yan. Pero at least, probinsyano ako, my brain stays in my head. Yung utak mo Dick yung utak mo nagtutunaw, nagpupunta diyan sa tiyan mo. You are a fart away from disaster, intindihin mo muna ‘yung tiyan mo bago ka makialam sa trabaho ko,” Duterte said.

“Take care of your stomach. It’s ugly. You’re just a fart, a heartbeat away from… ‘Yang laki mong ‘yan? ‘Yan ang katawan na mahirap, hindi pwede ambulansya. Karga ninyo sa truck ninyo,” he added.

“Hindi ka naman talaga Filipino, tisoy ka lang. Kami dito mga probinsyano,”

Duterte who even called Gordon a “President” in 2017 said that the latter cannot win a higher position in the government if he would doubt the former members of the military ability to serve the government.

“Hanggang Senador ka lang. If you want the title ‘Vice President,’ this is my advice to you: Hindi ka talaga mag-bise presidente kailanman. Sisiguraduhin ko ‘yan,” Duterte said.

“Kung ikaw mag-presidente, sigurado ‘yan wala talagang maniwala sa ‘yo. ‘Yang sinabi mo na ‘yan? ‘Wag ka na tumakbo ng presidente, wala kang makuha sa Armed Forces. Pag manalo ka, kargahin ka diyan galing sa Luneta diretso ka doon sa Bilibid,” he also said.

Before ending his speech, the President even compared Gordon to a Penguin because of his body.

“Sabi ko nga, ikaw, para kang penguin maglakad. Totoo man sabihin mo sa kanya. Makita kami. Sabihin niya sa akin uli ‘yan. Sabihin niya in front of me,”

On Wednesday, Gordon expressed his concern on the decision of the President to appoint ex-Generals in his Cabinet, calling it as “dangerous”.

“Ang problema lang kay Presidente, mababaw ang bench nya. He comes from the province, hindi niya nakilala. So, mas nagre-rely siya sa military,” Gordon said in a statement.

“It’s a dangerous one because civilian authority must remain supreme over the military. Dapat three years muna bago ka i-appoint… para mawala muna ‘yung ties mo, the ties that bind,” the senator said

Mayor Isko Moreno signed another ordinance that could help the college students studying in the public universities located at Manila City.

Moreno signed Ordinance No. 8568 which mandates the city government to grant a P1,000 monthly monetary allowance for qualified students of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and the Universidad de Manila (UDM).

This was signed by Moreno, one week after he ordered Ordinance No. 8565 and 8564 that grants P500 money allowance for grade 12 students, senior citizens, solo parents, and person with disabilities.

According to the ordinance, to qualify in the monthly allowance, the student should:

• Duly enrolled undergraduate students in good standing of PLM or UDM, who is a resident and registered voter of the City of Manila, or if the student is not yet of legal age to register to vote, his or her parents, one of the parents, legal guardian is a registered voter of the City of Manila
• The student should not be under probation or without any citation and disciplinary record from the said universities.

The City Government of Manila will provide Automated Teller Machine cards to the beneficiaries so they don’t need to visit any office to get the allowance.

However, the students should surrender the ATM machine back to the City Government if they become disqualified from the monthly allowance program.

During the campaign period, Moreno vowed to take care of public school students because he was also once a product of free education in Manila City.

He studied public administration in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno was saddened after he saw that some of the walls and other structures around Bonifacio Monument were vandalized by still unidentified men.

Moreno who’s known for his mission to clean up Manila urged the people to stop committing vandalism, especially to monuments.

“They should stop defacing monuments because these are reminders of heroes who gave us the things we enjoy now,” Moreno said.

“Punta sila sa’kin. Bigyan ko sila ng hate wall where they can express themselves. Doon na lang tayo. Puwede naman natin pag-usapan ‘yun,” Moreno added.

He made a decision to make a “hate walls” or “freedom walls” around the park so the people who wanted to express their feelings by committing vandalism doesn’t need to give inconvenience to the Manila City Government next time.

“Freedom wall, hate wall, whatever you call it, a wall [where] they can express themselves in an artistic manner or [express their] beliefs for that matter,” Moreno.

The Manila Mayor also said that he’s not yet making a decision if he would order a crackdown against vandals.

“Sayang naman ‘yung oras kung puro aresto kami. Baka mas maganda kung makisuyo na lang kami,” Moreno said.

However, he warned that consequences are waiting for the people who would continue defacing government-owned structures and heritage sites.

“We are firm, don’t get us wrong. We are firm but we are just trying to be diplomatic at the start,” he said.

In another interview, Moreno said that the vandals might clean their own graffitis if they continue defacing heritage sites.

“Kung mabisa ang laway nila, lawayan nila,” Moreno said when asked if how the vandals could clean up their graffitis.

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“I’m not after the penalty. I don’t want to make Manila richer because we keep on penalizing people,” he added.

Last week, a monument in Mendiola was vandalized by alleged leftist groups just 24 hours after it was renovated by the City Government of Manila.

Netizens expressed their disappointment over the acts of the vandal, saying that they should not deface heritage sites amid the efforts of Moreno to beautify Manila.