URDANETA, Pangasinan – With Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III topping survey after survey, he revealed Sunday that he has been devoting all his spare time to studying matters he needs to be more familiar with if he becomes president.

“Every free time, even on trips from Manila to (Pangasinan), I have had several briefings… on several topics that is part of making me rounded, to be able to decide correctly if that privilege comes after the elections,” Aquino told reporters here.

He said he has been doing this for the past eight months even while on the campaign trail.
Laying his cards on the table, the senator from Tarlac confessed he needed to be more familiarized the “health situation” in the country.

“For example the reproductive health (issue); we transformed it into responsible parenthood. (The) Health situationer is not really part of my core knowledge, (and) I’ve studied on that,” Aquino said.

Aquino conceded that there are still a lot of things to resolve and many institutions in the country to repair.

“The Supreme Court for instance, reversing the rule on midnight appointments. That is really hard to understand,” Aquino admitted.

But despite his strange knowledge of a number of important issues, he said that one thing is certain in his mind if and when he becomes president.

And that is what will be the first thing he will do: To pursue justice and “attain “closure on major issues that hounded the present administration which has stymied the growth of the country and has been a divisive factor since then.”

“First, we have to form a Cabinet. We have to get the right people who will implement the policies. After that is settled we will go to the closure of all the issues like the “hello Garci” scandal, the fertilizer scam, the ZTE broadband deal and so on and so forth,” Aquino said.

“Obviously we will need the wherewithal to be able to fund all the projects, programs and policies of the government, very key here are the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Internal Revenue and there will be a pursuit of the Department of Justice cooperation to go after those who have been smuggling and evading taxes. We will do all this simultaneously… directly implementing the directions we have set,” he added.

Aquino also stressed that after the elections and despite all the personal attacks thrown his way throughout the entire campaign period, he is prepared to shake the hands of his rivals and detractors.

“Why should we get personal? Where I came from, if you are the subject of a text brigade, you just smile. Be ready to deal with falsehoods especially during the campaign when candidates sometimes lie. I am aware I represent the hopes of people, and all my decisions will affect them. That is why we should be the first one to accept everything. Shaking the hands of our adversaries is such a simple thing to do considering that we have a lot to endure,” said Aquino.