Political appointees burdening Aquino should go, says Sen. Drilon

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Franklin Drilon has called on political appointees, who have become a burden President Benigno Aquino III, to resign from their posts.

Drilon specifically cited the case of Land Transportation Office chief Virginia Torres, who has been accused of favoring one group in the ownership dispute of Stradcom Corp., the database technology provider of the LTO.

“I’m appealing to Virgina Torres, please help the President,” Drilon said in Filipino in an interview.

“Even if she’s not guilty… I’m not saying she’s guilty, but in this government, perception is very critical. The people think that it is already affecting the leadership of President Aquino,” he added.

Drilon said that the President was unnecessarily being dragged into the issue because of his supposed closeness with the LTO chief.

Drilon then urged the President’s appointees to just leave their posts should they become a burden to him.

“We are here to help the President.  Maybe we should just resign if the people think that we have become a burden already, not that we have committed a mistake,” he added.