Palace: 100 days ratings a 'non-issue' with Aquino

President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will continue performing his duties as he sees fit regardless of what critics may say of his performance during his first 100 days in office, Malacañang said Monday. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda made the statement after some leftist groups and political analysts said Aquino did not perform very well as chief executive during his first 100 days, which will be marked later in the week. "He will do his job regardless of what other people feel, regardless of what the pundits say," Lacierda said. "It's a non-issue for him." "Tungkulin po niya magbigay ng serbisyo sa ating taong bayan. Gagawin po niya lahat ng kanyang makakaya [para] gampanan ang kanyang trabaho bilang pangulo (His job is to serve the public. He will do everything he can to fulfill his role as president)," he added. Lacierda said he does not want to make presumptions on what has been the biggest challenge to the Aquino administration so far, but said the biggest difference has been the "change of attitude of people towards the government." "We have a government that has been transparent," he said. Lacierda said the administration is also "on track" towards achieving its goals of combating poverty and corruption through the constant filing of tax evasion cases, cutting the excessive benefits of government owned and controlled corporations, and allotting a bigger budget to social services, among others. Lacierda said that while it may be difficult for the public to forget about the August 23 hostage crisis which the Aquino administration is accused of handling poorly, the public will see in the long run that the Aquino administration is committed to fulfilling its promises. The Communist Party of the Philippines and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan earlier gave Aquino poor scores for his first 100 days, claiming that Aquino has done little to curb incidences of extrajudicial killings in the country. Aquino himself said over the weekend that what is important to him is that ordinary Filipinos see and appreciate the “reforms" he has so far put in place. "Sabi nga nung iba, half-full and half-empty. Eh meron talagang iba na ang pakay nila sa buhay ay parating tumingin doon sa half-empty, hindi na ho nila makikita yung part na half-full. Siguro pagpapasensyahan ko na sila. Sa akin ho, basta nakikita ng taumbayan yung talagang ginagawa natin para sa nakararami parati at palagay ko na-a-appreciate naman nila, ako ay kuntento na," Aquino said during the government health insurance registration launching in Manila last Saturday. (Some people just insist on seeing the glass as half-empty and never half-full. I will just forgive them. To me, what matters is that people see what my administration has done so far. If they appreciate these reforms, I will be content.) — RSJ, GMANews.TV