BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya , Philippines – Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena, one of President Arroyo’s closest advisers in the Catholic Church, yesterday said history may yet judge her as one of the best presidents the country ever had.
During what could be her last visit as president here last Monday, Villena praised Mrs. Arroyo for her love of people in the rural communities and her contributions to rural infrastructure.
The President led the inauguration of the 13.193-kilometer mountain road worth P330 million in Barangay Belance, Dupax del Norte.
“Our (present) time may judge you as unpopular but history will soon rectify judgment and prove that you are one of the very best presidents that this country had,” Villena said during the inauguration.
He said Arroyo was the only incumbent president who made an effort to visit remote areas like Belance.
The Arroyo administration has been beleaguered by various controversies including the alleged massive fraud during the 2004 presidential election that supposedly installed her in power, and the anomalous national broadband network scam.