'Old politician' in Noy's speech not Enrile, Palace says

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III was not referring to anyone, particularly Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, when he mentioned an "old politician" in his televised speech last night, a Palace official said Thursday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Sonny Coloma said it was not Aquino's objective to sow intrigue when he blasted his critics embroiled into the pork barrel scam who heeded the advice of an "old politician."

"Wala pong layunin ang Pangulo na mang-intriga," Coloma said. "Ako po ay naging saksi sa paghahanda ng kanyang talumpati. Ni minsan po ay wala akong narining na pangalang binanggit."

Coloma said the unidentified "old politician" should not be a subject of speculation.

"Kapag po merong nagbabato ng batikos o akusasyon, sino po ba dapat ang magbigay sustansya doon? 'Yung pinaparatangan o 'yung nagpaparatang?" said Coloma.

The President hit back at his critics last night and accused them of muddling the issue on the alleged pork barrel scam.

He maintained that these critics who were allegedly involved in the pork barrel scam were the ones behind the attacks on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) of his administration.

"And since it is exceedingly difficult to explain, it seems they have taken the advice of an old politician from their camp: If you can’t explain it, muddle it; if you can’t deodorize it, make everyone else stink; if you can’t look good, make everyone look bad. You have heard what they are saying: that we are all the same," Aquino said.

Th 89-year-old Enrile is among the more than 30 people who are facing charges in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.

Like Enrile, those charged with plunder were suspected scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles and Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada.

It was Estrada who bared in a privilege speech that some lawmakers received additional funds in the aftermath of the Corona impeachment trial last year.

Estrada's revelation eventually lead to the DAP controversy after the Aquino administration disclosed that the extra pork barrel was from the said fund scheme.

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