Aquino Barnstorms Nueva Ecija

Leading presidential candidate Sen. Benigno S. "Noynoy" Aquino III on Thursday presided over the proclamation rallies of Liberal Party (LP) candidates in Nueva Ecija province.

Aquino, who holds sizeable leads over other candidates in the latest Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia presidential surveys, was received warmly by massive crowds at the Peñarada Town Plaza, Gapan Public Market, and the Guimba Town Plaza.

People went out of their houses to flash Laban signs. Market vendors even left their wares to greet the LP motorcade, and shake hands with Aquino.

Aquino spoke before graduates of the College of Immaculate Conception, wherein he stressed the need to eliminate corruption, which has diverted government funds that could have been used on services such as on education and healthcare.

"Mga 280 billion piso ang nawala mula sa 2009 national budget dahil sa corruption. Ang perang iyon ay maaaring makapagpatayo ng 560,000 na health clinics, o kaya 280,000 na maliliit na eskwelahan. Dito dapat napunta ang pondo ng bayan, hindi sa bulsa ng iilan lamang," said Aquino.

Aquino encouraged the graduates to join in the struggle to bring about a clean and compassionate government, which would end corruption, the foremost cause of impunity and poverty in the country.

"Kayo ay may malaking tungkulin para siguruhin ang magandang kinabukasan ng ating bansa. Kaming mas nakatatanda, mas kakaunti ang panahon para tiisin ang mga pagkakamali sa kasalukuyan. Samantalang kayong nakakabata, marami pang pagdadaanan. Sana'y subukin niyong ituwid ang maling nakikita ninyo upang makamit ang pagbabagong inaasam ng lahat," said Aquino.