Aquino vows to pursue 'true and complete justice for all'

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Wednesday vowed to go after those who have committed crimes against the nation and set an example in getting rid of corruption in public administration. In his inaugural speech rendered mostly in Filipino after taking his oath as the Philippines' 15th president, Aquino said, "Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin at pinapatawad ko na kayo." [Read: Full transcript of President Aquino's inaugural speech] However, he added: "Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong kasalanan. "To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong mauulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito," he said.

Addressing the incoming Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, he said: "Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all." No more "wang-wang" Aquino spiced up his speech with light-hearted comments, generating applause from more than half a million spectators at the Luneta when he likened his own experiences with those of ordinary Filipinos. "Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para masingitan ng naghahariang may wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin," said Aquino. He promised to discontinue the practices of previous administrations and said, "Walang mayaman, walang padrino, walang pagnanakaw. Walag wang wang, walang counterflow, walang tong," to the delight of the crowd. "Ngayon, sa araw na ito - dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan," he asserted. Aquino said he would set up a feedback mechanism so the public can relay their sentiments to the government easily, adding "Kayo ang boss ko, kaya hindi pwedeng hindi ako makinig sa utos niyo." He said his campaign slogan "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap" was not only "pang-poster" but would serve as the basis of the Aquino administration. "Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan," he said. Carrying the torch He began his speech, which lasted around 20 minutes, by saying he did not think he would one day stand as the country's president. Noynoy recalled the sacrifices of his parents, former president Corazon Aquino and martyred senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., before promising to dedicate his own life to public service. "Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa," he said. Mrs. Aquino is widely credited for restoring democracy in the Philippines in 1986 following the Martial Law years under strongman Ferdinand Marcos. "My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward," he said. "Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo," he said. Midnight appointments Aquino said he intends to start suppressing corruption in government by dealing with Mrs. Arroyo's last-minute appointments before she bowed out of office. "Sisimulan natin ang pagababalik ng tiwala [sa gobyerno] sa pamamagitan ng pag-usisa sa midnight appointments," he said. He added that he would strengthen the Bureau of Internal Revenue's tax collection measures as a means to fight corruption. "Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat," he said. "Tayo na sa matuwid na landas," Aquino concluded. - YA, GMANews.TV