Aquino takes dig at Arroyo before leaving for Indonesia, Singapore

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday night voiced hopes in restoring the Philippines’ reputation in Southeast Asia from what he called a decade of darkness, as he left for his state visits to Indonesia and Singapore. Aquino boarded a Cebu Pacific flight to Jakarta at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at 8:35 p.m., government-run dzRB radio reported. In his departure statement, Aquino took a dig at his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whose nine-year rule he described as almost a decade of darkness. “Dahil sa kadilimang bumalot sa ating bansa ng halos isang dekada, matagal ding nangamba ang mga bansa mula sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng rehiyon na makipag-ugnayan sa atin. Kaya naman mahalagang maipabatid sa kanila ang panibagong sigla at liwanag na namamayani sa Pilipinas," he said. (Because of the darkness that engulfed our country for nearly a decade, other countries were wary of dealing with us. So it is important to reassure them of the renewed life now in the Philippines.) Aquino also said he hopes to strengthen ties with the Philippines’ Southeast Asian neighbors to ensure continued peace and progress. He said he will also visit Filipinos in Indonesia and Singapore to learn their concerns and address them. “Ipapaabot din natin sa kanila ang mga good news sa ating bansa nang malaman nilang habang kumakayod sila sa ibayong dagat, inaalagaan natin ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay dito po sa Pilipinas," he said. (We will bring to them the good news about our country so they will be reassured that while they work hard abroad, we are taking care of their loved ones at home.) The President likewise said he will assure business leaders in Indonesia and Singapore of the Philippines’ continued efforts to clean up the bureaucracy. He said he will send the message that the Philippines is open for business and ready for their investments. “Bukas na muli ang ating pinto sa kanilang mga negosyo, handa na rin po tayo sa tuloy-tuloy na pag-asenso (Our doors are open again for their investments. We are ready to prosper)," he said. He also said that while he is away, Filipinos should continue working to restore the country’s reputation as one of the world’s most respected nations. “Malayo man tayo sa isa’t isa magtrabaho tayo nang may dedikasyon at may kolektibong pagkilos upang sama-sama nating maibalik ang reputasyon ng Pilipinas bilang isa sa mga bansang tunay na tinitingala ng buong mundo," he said. (Let us work together with dedication so we can restore the Philippines’ reputation as one of the world’s most respected countries.) Aquino will be in Indonesia until Thursday and in Singapore from Thursday until Saturday. Joining him in his trip were secretaries Albert del Rosario (foreign affairs), Cesar Purisima (finance), Jose Rene Almendras (energy), Florencio Abad (budget), and Herminio Coloma Jr. (presidential communications operations office). Vice President Jejomar Binay, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., secretaries Jesse Robredo (interior) and Proceso Alcala (agriculture), and newly installed Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. were among the officials who saw him off. Also present at the departure ceremony was former senator and defeated vice presidential bet Sen. Manuel Roxas II and lawmakers allied with the administration. In Indonesia, Aquino will meet with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and discuss fisheries cooperation, maritime boundary delimitation, and other matters. Aquino will also witness the signing of three agreements, including those on basic education, sports cooperation, and on cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crimes and capacity building. “These agreements aim at enhancing people-to-people linkages between the two countries," the DFA said. In Singapore, Aquino will meet Singaporean President SR Nathan, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, where they will discuss government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives, the Philippines-Singapore Action Plan and other matters of bilateral and ASEAN concerns. “The Singaporean government will confer on President Aquino the honor of having an orchid breed named after him, a courtesy accorded to visiting Heads of State," the DFA said. During Aquino’s state visits, he will also meet the Filipino communities in Jakarta and Singapore, as well as with business taipans and organizations to drum up support for the investment initiatives of his administration. — KBK/MRT/VS, GMA News