Palace aide: No politics in appointment of LTFRB chief

MANILA, Philippines—A Malacañang Palace aide dismissed insinuations that new Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board chief James Jacob was appointed to his post as payment for political debts.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Jacob, a member of the Liberal Party, was appointed because he shared President Aquino’s reform agenda.

“It is easy to say that this is (a political debt) because he is a (political) ally but let us remember that… if he’s already an ally, then he knows where (the administration) wants to go,” Valte said in an interview over the government radio station DZRB.

Valte said Jacob supports the reforms being pushed forward by President Aquino. “So, this is just ordinary. It is just natural for an ally to get appointed,” she added.

Valte urged the transport sector to give Jacob a chance to prove himself in his new position.

“Let’s give the man a chance since he has just been appointed. (Transportation) Secretary (Mar) Roxas has given him his marching orders,” Valte said.

“Maybe we should give him a chance before we make any comment and let us help so that he would be successful in his plans for the agency,” she added.