Benigno Aquino III and Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III may ask Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla to keep his post despite failing to restore electricity before Christmas in all areas ravaged by Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” a Palace aide said on Thursday.
But Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, in a television interview said immediately that this was only his opinion and that as far as he knew Petilla has not submitted his resignation to the President.
Petilla offered Wednesday to tender his resignation after failing to keep his promise of restoring power in the Eastern Visayas.
“Kausap ko po sya (Petilla) kahapon at sabi ko sa kanya sa aking palagay naman ay nagampanan nya yung kanyang tungkulin. Hindi sya naging pabaya, hindi nagsayang ng pagkakataon..talagang ibinuhos nya ang lahat para dun,” Coloma said.
(I was talking to him (Petilla) yesterday and I told him that I think he did his job, he had not wasted time and he had really given everything for them)
“At sinabi ko na sa aking sariling opinion, ayaw ko pong pangunahan ang magiging pasya ng Pangulo, ang persoinal opinion ko lang po ay malamang kakausapin naman po sya na magpatuloy sa kanyang paglilingkod,” he said.
(And I said that in my opinion–I don’t want to preempt the decision of the President, this is only my personal opinion–that he may be asked to continue his services)
Coloma noted that Petilla set the Christmas deadline because as former governor of Leyte, one of the areas hit hard by the typhoon, the energy chief simply wanted to show his determination to help his provincemates.
“Makikita natin sa simula’t sapul nandun talaga yung kanyang determinasyon at bukod pa dun, gusto nyang magbigay ng pagasa sa kanyang mga kalalawigan at karegiyon na dapat ay bumangon mula sa kalamidad,” the Palace official added.
(We saw that right from the start, he was really determined and aside from that, he wants to give hope to his provincemates and the region who should be able to rise from the calamity.)
Related Stories:
Petilla intends to resign –Palace
Power supply back in Eastern Visayas by Christmas – Petilla
Deadline on electricity met–Petilla
Petilla confident of meeting deadline on Visayas power restoration