National security adviser: ‘Give Chavit a chance’
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 17:45:00 09/07/2008
Filed Under: Mindanao peace process, Government, Politics
MANILA, Philippines -- National Security Adviser Noberto Gonzales does not mind the entry of former Ilocos governor Luis "Chavit” Singson into the government’s spy work.
"No problem for me," said Gonzales on Sunday. He disclosed that President Macapagal-Arroyo informed him "some days back" that she was choosing Singson, a defeated administration senatorial candidate, as the deputy national security adviser.
"Who doesn’t know him?" Gonzales quipped when asked if he personally knew Singson, a staunch political ally of President Macapagal-Arroyo, who helped bring down her predecessor, Joseph Estrada in 2001, by revealing the jueteng payoffs to the former president.
This early, some people were scoffing at her choice for such a sensitive job.
But in a phone interview, Gonzales asked for Singson’s detractors to see for themselves how the latter would perform.
"Let’s give him a chance," he said of Singson.
Gonzales said he had not worked with Singson, but that was not an issue for him.
He said he and Singson were to meet this week to discuss among others, "how he will fit in" the job that would mainly involve intelligence work.
When asked what Singson could contribute to the job, Gonzales said: "I will have to ask him."
But he stressed "all help is needed," apparently in reference to the new government policy in dealing with the enemies of the State.
The government has put on hold its peace negotiations with communist rebels and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after President Macapagal-Arroyo ordered a thorough review of the administration’s peace initiatives.
She earlier announced that the government would engage in peace talks with armed groups only if their disarmament, demobilization and rehabilitation were on the table.
The President now wants consultations to be made with the people on how to achieve peace.
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