WHEN former President Noynoy Aquino died last June 24 at age 61, the nation lost one of its most revered leaders in contemporary times.
The country cannot forget how Noynoy stood up defiantly against the Chinese behemoth when the latter made illegal intrusions into the West Philippine Sea. He brought the matter to the Hague Arbitral Court which in July 2016 decided in favor of the Philippines.
Unfortunately, the Duterte administration squandered our hard-earned victory and refused to enforce the Hague ruling for fear of offending the Chinese bully.
Noynoy Aquino will be remembered for giving a greater role to the private sector through the public-private partnership. This enhanced the growth of important infrastructure projects, some of them claimed by the present administration during ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
He was incorruptible and had the passion for public service like his beloved mother, Cory, the icon of democracy and his martyred father, the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.
It was during Noynoy’s watch when the then Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona was impeached and convicted by the Senate.
It was during Noynoy’s administration that public officials like former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was sent to jail for corruption and election sabotage. Arroyo was profuse in her thanks to President Duterte for providing the atmosphere in the Supreme Court for her acquittal.
Noynoy suffered during his time the undeserved criticisms which he willingly endured. He never threatened people and never made vulgar remarks especially on women for whom he showed his great respect.
PNoy had done much for his country and people in a manner which posterity cannot forget.