Former President Benigno "NoyNoy" Aquino Dies at 61
Former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III dies at 61 after being rushed to the Capitol Medical Center in Quezon City. The former president had been relatively out of the eye of the public since he stepped down from office in 2016, although he was always the object of negative and dirty slurs from the supporters of the current Duterte Administration.
According to multiple reports from several regular news sites and dailies, the former President died at around 9:00AM of June 24, 2021 (Thursday).
President Noynoy Aquino's Legacy
I believe that he has really no plans to run for President but the times and the people forced him into this decision. He knows that it would be hard and personally he might also know that he might be incapable of the job based on his mediocre performance as a Senator.
His campaign of "Daang Matuwid," is something to be lauded although it seems that the corruption, in reality, is even bigger and perhaps many did not like him for that. Most of those who had been tagged as corrupt during his term are actually active once again after he left office.
READ: PNoy SONA 2010: President Noynoy Aquino Reveals Legislative Agenda in SONA 2010
Former President Noynoy Aquino also started several infrastructure projects which are actually completed after his term and so President Rodrigo Duterte was praised for its completion.
His biggest legacy perhaps is our winning in the International Arbitral Tribunal where we were favored on our claims in the West Philippine Sea against China. He stood up for our sovereignty and did not waver, although at present that win is being questioned and said to be one to be thrown in the bin.
President Noynoy Aquino's Pitfalls
Right after being elected, President Aquino was tested by the Manila Hostage Crisis in August 23, 2010 where 10 died including the hostage-taker. It was said that the handling of this hostage crisis was inept and even caused a diplomatic rift between Hong Kong and the Philippines.
READ: President Noynoy Aquino (PNoy) Faces Media Panel and Answers Manila Hostage Crisis Issues
Mamasapano Massacre or the so-called SAF 44 massacre was another pitfall for his administration. It was an incident that occurred during a police operation codenamed Oplan Exodus on Sunday, January 25, 2014 at Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao. There were flaws in the operation and a breach of protocols that were allegedly made during the operation.
Despite having an anti-corruption campaign, the biggest pork barrel or PDAF scam also happened during his term, although I would not say that this is his fault.
It was worth noting that President Benigno "NoyNoy| Aquino III did his best to serve the country well but being a President was never easy. In this time let us remember his good deeds and send our deepest condolences to his family.
What do you think of the former President? Let us know in the comments below.
Sources:
- https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/06/24/2107787/noynoy-aquino-15th-philippine-president-dead-61
- https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/24/21/benigno-aquino-iii-noynoy-aquino-death
- https://www.rappler.com/nation/updates-death-former-philippine-president-noynoy-aquino
