Miriam: Ermita remark on Obama far from truth

MANILA, Philippines – Even a perceived Malacañang ally on Thursday found Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita’s statement that United States President Barack Obama can learn from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo unbelievable. In an interview on dzBB radio, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said just because President Arroyo became a leader before Obama, it does not mean that it should be Obama that should be learning from President Arroyo. “Hindi naman kung sino ang una at sino ang huli sa leadership. Sabihin na lang natin, sa Ingles, na ‘yan ay hyperbole. Malayo naman sa katotohanan ‘yan," Santiago said. [“It doesn't matter who became a leader first. Let’s just say, in English, that is a hyperbole. That is far from the truth."] To recall, Ermita on Wednesday said it should be Obama that should be learning from President Arroyo, following the former’s inauguration as the US ’ 44th President. "First of all, our President is ahead of Obama and probably, I would think that if there's anything to be learned, it should be President Obama learning from President Arroyo. And wouldn't we be proud to say that the Philippines continues to be an 'island of calm' because of the present crunches?" Ermita said, when asked by media what lesson President Arroyo could learn from Obama. For its part, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that the only thing Obama can learn from President Arroyo is “how to use power to lie, cheat, steal, and suppress one’s enemies." “What could [President Arroyo] possibly impart to Obama considering her dismal track record and her gross unpopularity in her own country? Unless Obama wants to make short work of his presidency and descend into public disapproval, he better shun [President] Arroyo and her bad examples," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes, Jr. said in a statement issued Thursday. He also tagged President Arroyo as a “George Bush clone in Asia." “[President] Arroyo supported the US invasion of Iraq , even sending Philippine troops for the US occupation. [She] is also a vocal supporter of the Bush-instigated ‘war on terror.’ How can Obama learn anything from a Bush clone," Reyes said. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV