Is she in or is she out? While she is listed as a nominee for acting governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), President Aquino’s aunt and former Tarlac Gov. Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco blasted her nephew’s move to appoint officers-in-charge in the regional government. Cojuangco, who earlier signified her intention to run for vice governor in the Aug. 8 ARMM elections before it was cancelled by Congress to coincide with the 2013 national voting, said the appointment of OICs “was a double jeopardy for the people of the region.”
“First, the regional election in August was canceled. Second, appointees to soon-to-be vacant (unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise) positions are being recruited in the same way mall personnel are being recruited,” she said in a press statement.
Cojuangco said the cancellation was “an insult to the intelligence of ARMM voters.” The cancellation was endorsed by Malacañang.
“The government is acting as if those designated in the selection committee know better than ARMM’s 1.8 million voters about what to do with their political and social affairs,” she said.
She said the government has been “treating the ARMM so shabbily.”
Cojuangco was on a new list of candidates for acting governor released by the Office of the President.
“Is the ongoing recruitment an indication that the Aquino administration already knows what the decision of the High Court would be?” she said.
“Some officials in government are bragging that the Supreme Court will vote 9-6 in favor of cancellation,” she said.
“Maybe, some will even earn money in the process, knowing there are people willing to pay just to get the posts they desire,” she said.
She earlier denied that she was banned from attending functions in Malacañang.
“I don’t know about a ban, P-Noy and I we were just texting last week,” she said. She said she does not know where the controversy was coming from.
Her absence in a Malacañang function celebrating the Eid’l Fitr (Feast of Ramadan) on Sept. 1 sparked talks that she was banned from the Palace. At that time, the President was in China on a state visit.
Cojuangco, however, dared her critics and Malacañang officials to prove that there is a ban.
“I am personally not aware of the ban… I throw back the issue to the Palace to please confirm that I was banned as [Chito] Gascon, [Teresita] Deles and [Ronald] Llamas say,” she said in a text message.
She also asked presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Secretary Herminio Coloma, of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, to “please announce the ban officially.”
Cojuangco said she failed to attend the Malacañang function last week because she was then in Baguio City.
She said she would have sent her daughter, Mikee, but someone from Malacañang, whom she identified as Girlie, called her and informed her that the invitation could not be extended to a representative.
Asked if there is a rift between her and the President, Cojuangco said: “Why will there be a rift?”
Cojuangco said her family members are not into the habit of going to Malacañang.