Unfair to rate Aquino sans criteria: Sara

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte refused to give President Benigno Aquino III a numerical grade, saying it is unfair to rate the President in the absence of a criteria.

Duterte said, Aquino's first year was steady enough and he was able to do what he promised from the start in leading the country into a straight path.

Duterte made the reaction a few hours before Aquino was set to deliver his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.

"So far, so good. There were high and low points in his first year," she said.

For Duterte, Aquino has a bit problem in personnel component or distribution and replacement of department heads in various government agencies.

Asked to comment on several rallies and demonstrations organized by various sectors, Duterte said she respects their (cause-oriented groups) rights to express their sentiments to whatever they deemed worthy to be tackled.

"Bahala'g mag rally na sila dira, wala 'koy labot basta wala lay masakitan ug wala lay crimes committed (I do not care if they will organized a rally as long as there will be no violence and crime be committed)," the mayor added.

Good sign of better days ahead

Meanwhile, Davao City Councilor, said Monday that Aquino's step in filing several criminal charges, particularly graft charges against various personalities, is a good indicator that the President is committed in his drive in eradicating corruption in the country.

"If we want change, we have to start somewhere," Quitain said, adding Aquino's programs are good sign that there is a good day ahead for all Filipinos.

Asked to grade Aquino, Quitain was quick to give a generous 8.5 grade a rating, on a scale of 1-10 with 10 as the highest, which he described as a way too high for a president's first year.

Quitain lauded Aquino's main focus in his Sona, which focused on eradicating corruption in the country.