Aquino: No need for entertainer-politicians

MANILA, Philippines - On Independence Day, President Benigno Aquino III took a swipe at the personalities charged with plunder over the pork barrel scam.

In his speech in Naga City, Aquino reminded the people not to vote for leaders who are only good for show.

This, after the privilege speeches of Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr received negative public reaction.

"Ang hamon sa atin: Piliin ang mga kandidatong kayang ipaglaban ang interes ng bawat mamamayan, sa harap ng anumang hamon. Hindi natin kailangan ng magaling bumigkas ng script, mahusay sumayaw, o kaya magaling kumanta. Pananagutan nating mag-iwan ng mas makatarungan at mas maunlad na Pilipinas kaysa atin pong dinatnan," Aquino said.

Earlier this week, the two actor-politicians delivered their own privilege speech at the Senate ahead of their possible arrest for their alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

On Wednesday, Estrada assailed the Department of Justice, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit for what he called "selective prosecution" of his case and others in the political opposition implicated in the pork barrel scam.

Estrada showed a video presentation titled "Selective Justice," supposedly showing some officials' bias against him, Revilla and Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

Like his co-accused, Revilla also showed a video presentation that featured his own song "Salamat Kaibigan" during his similarly emotional speech in which he thanked his fellow senators in what many thought was his farewell message.

Aquino, however, dismissed claims that the cases filed in connection with the multi-billion peso controversy were railroaded and politicized.

"Sinunod natin ang tamang proseso: Nagsagawa ng imbestigasyon, nangalap at nangangalap pa ng mga ebidensiya, at ngayon ay nakasampa ng kaso," Aquino said.

"Puwede naman itong ginawa noon nang mabilisan at walang matibay na basehan upang masira ang pangalan ng mga kandidatong dawit sa kontrobersiya, pero, at kayo na po ang saksi, idinaan natin sa tamang sistema ang pagpapalabas ng katotohanan," he added.

The President said he instructed Justice Secretary Leila De Lima not to make accusations without sufficient proof.

"At pagkatapos, tayo pa ngayon ang sinasabihan na namumulitika? Kayo na hong bahalang magpasya kung sino ang papanigan niyo sa usaping ito," he said.