Day after Nora Aunor gave her statement on the National Artist controvery, Malacanang officially issued a statement regarding their reason for dropping the Superstar in the list. The reason was her conviction in drug abuse in 2005 where the veteran actress was hold at the Los Angeles International Airport for alleged possession of drugs paraphernalia and illegal drugs that the substance was identified as methamphetamine. The explanation was given by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III during the conference in the Clark Freeport, Pampanga.
President Aquino said that he doesn’t want to send the message that drug use is acceptable. According to him he respect Aunor as actress but the case of her drug conviction will send a message to all if he allows her to be a National Artist. But in 2007 the actress was cleared after she went through a rehabilitation program, and after her drug test came out negative.
Read: Nora Aunor breaks her silence on National Artist controversy
The present affirms his zero tolerance on the issue of drugs and according to him it is wrong.