Palace denies Aquino wants DOE undersecretary out

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Wednesday denied that President Benigno Aquino had any hand in the reported impending departure of Energy Undersecretary Jay Layug at the Department of Energy.

Secretary Edwin Lacierda, Aquino’s spokesman, quoted Energy Secretary Jose Almendras as saying that reports that the President wanted Layug out of the DOE were all “speculations.”

“Why will we make a special case on him (Layug)? … Why will the President concern himself with an undersecretary?” Lacierda said in a phone interview, adding that as far as the Palace was concerned its “point man” when it comes to issues on energy was Almendras.

Layug reportedly said he will not resign and will just wait for his termination papers.

But Lacierda said “there were no termination papers (on Layug), as far as we know.”

He said Layug “should not make himself a special case.”

“We all serve under the pleasure of the President,” Lacierda said.

At a press briefing, Lacierda also maintained that there are no plans so far of any reshuffle in the Cabinet of the President. “Wala pa,” he told reporters.

But in the event it happens, he said it will be a “normal process.”

“The President had previously said that some of the Cabinet members really took a pay cut when they decided to join government and it’s natural that there will be changes in the Cabinet as we go along,” Lacierda said.