Aquino gripes over ‘biases’of forum moderator

Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III protested what he described as unfair treatment of a journalist, who acted as moderator of a presidential forum sponsored by a group of businessmen in Pasay City on Tuesday.

During the forum by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aquino took a subtle dig at how Tony Lopez of BizNewsAsia showed his supposed biases for his closest rival in the presidential race, Senator Manny Villar.

Lopez introduced Villar as former House speaker, former Senate president and “former future president,” while he described Aquino as someone who came from a good “pedigree of heroes.”

Interviewed by reporters after the forum, Aquino did not mince words to hit Lopez, who had been writing negative articles about him.

In fact, Aquino said the perceived bias of Lopez was one reason he opted to attend the event.

“Kaya ako nagpunta dito dahil alam kong may bias. Tinitingnan ko yung mga article ng moderator. Sana may parity lang (I went here because I know there’s bias. I’ve been reading the articles of the moderator. I just hope there is parity),” Aquino lamented.

The senator pointed out, for instance, how he was always chosen to be the first to answer questions in the forum.

“On other fora, it’s alternating. Obviously, the last to answer will have plenty of time to think about his response,” he said.

Asked if Lopez could be favoring any candidate, Aquino said: “Favoring Villar. He has already several articles on that.”