“I have always been able to speak very candidly here, so let me admit that I have mixed feelings about my last presidential forum. On the one hand, I face our gathering with a little bit of sadness—may I emphasize ‘a little bit’—after all, I have never been shy about expressing my admiration for your organization and its history of principled journalism. During Martial Law, when the dictatorship sought to suppress information and took over local media, the members of your organization stood up to the dictator, and paid the price for it continuously. FOCAP became guardians of the truth during a dangerous time, and I will neither forget nor fail to pay tribute to this”
– Former President Benigno Aquino III on October 27, 2015 at Solaire Resort and Casino in Paranaque City.
(Handout photo by Malacanang)
