While it may be unpopular for most observers, the tack taken recently by President Aquino to lash back at a television network and one of its notable news anchors, former Vice President Noli “Kabayan” de Castro, for their alleged biases toward negative reports on his administration, one senator voiced out approval of the act of the Chief Executive.
But in expressing his “admiration” for Aquino, who made the snide remarks in his speech when he attended the 25th anniversary celebration of TV Patrol, the flagship primetime news broadcast of ABS-CBN, at the Manila Hotel, Sen. Panfilo Lacson noted that the President had a “better option” — that of conveying personally his views to De Castro in a one-on-one talk.
“A lot has been said about it, whethey they were in approval or not, all I can said is that I admire him as a person. He’s an in-your-face kind of guy who will tell directly to the person concerned his complaints. That’s better than someone who backbites,” Lacson said.
“On that note I would like to state I admire him as a person, for doing that. It’s better that he made known his sentiments rather than criticize (his pereceived opponents) when they’re no longer in front of him. But the question is, was it the proper place, the proper time?” Lacson pointed out.
The senator admitted though talking privately to the person concerned, in this case, De Castro, was the better option.
However, Lacson said, there was a possibility though that the message the President wanted to convey to the person concerned would not be clearly appreciated in a one-on-one talk.
“There are a number of options in dealing with that kind of situation. I, personally, (am) only saying that it’s better to say it in your face rather than backbite the person.
“But it would be a better solution had they opted to confront the person in one corner. We have a rule in leadership (that says), ‘you commend in public and reprimand in private.’ That’s basic among us. But there are times that we really cannot control ourselves,” he said.
Asked if he would do the same, given the issue that Aquino raised, Lacson said it depended on the situation or the recidivism or repetitiveness of the acts committed.
“It’s possible that unknown to most of us, he (Aquino) could have called their attention before and yet they continued doing it (to) him. We do not know the background (of the issue) so we cannot judge P-Noy,” he explained.