Aquino urged to keep Puno out of gov’t

Rico Puno. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan called on President Benigno Aquino III to keep resigned Interior undersecretary Rico Puno out of government.

“Mr. Puno has too much baggage and is now the subject of a Senate inquiry. It would be best if he is kept out of government,” Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in a statement Wednesday.

Puno recently resigned after reports of his involvement in an alleged overpriced arms contract in the Philipline National Police.

His actions in relation to the residence of the late Interior secretary Jesse Robredo were also questioned.

Puno said in a statement after submitting his resignation in Malacanang that he was resigning to give incoming Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Manuel Roxas “a free hand” in choosing his own team.

Puno was quoted as saying in a television interview that Aquino offered him a “nice, quiet job” in government.

“The president’s insistence on keeping Puno in government, despite the controversies, pre-empts any meaningful investigation from taking place. It’s as if Puno has been absolved from any wrongdoing, even before the results of the investigations have come out. Puno’s reappointment virtually exculpates him,” Reyes said.

Reyes added that Aquino was giving preferential treatment to Puno, a close friend and shooting buddy.

“It really sends the wrong message. This is definitely not the daang matuwid earlier claimed by the Aquino government,” Reyes said.