Aquino bashes 'Kabayan'

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III continues to hit back at his critics, this time a former high-ranking leader during the Arroyo administration.

In a speech in Oriental Mindoro on Friday, Aquino reiterated that there are people who continue to cast doubts on the reforms of his administration, including an unnamed official who uses the term "kabayan."

"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," Aquino said.

"At ngayon, bagaman tinutugunan na natin ang mga problemang ipinamana sa atin, hindi pa rin nagsawa sa paghirit ang itinuturing kayong 'kabayan'," he added.

Broadcaster Noli De Castro, the vice president during the past administration, hails from Oriental Mindoro and is known by the nickname "Kabayan."

After ending his term in 2010, De Castro returned to his mother network, ABS-CBN, where he now anchors TV Patrol and his radio program Kabayan on DZMM.

This was not the first time that Aquino took a swipe at De Castro. During the 25th anniversary party of TV Patrol in 2012, The President criticized the broadcaster for his negativity.

In that event, Aquino also did not name De Castro, but he used the latter's trademark line "magandang gabi, bayan," in his tirade.

"Kung alam mong opinion-maker ka, alam mo rin dapat na mayroon kang responsibilidad. Sana po, sa tuwing sasabihin nating, and I quote, 'magandang gabi, bayan,' ay totoong hinahangad nating maging maganda ang gabi ng bayan," Aquino said. -Louis Bacani