Palace open to discussions with Osmeña

Senator Sergio Osmeña III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—After Sen. Serge Osmeña spewed hot words towards President Benigno Aquino III, Malacañang is as cool as ice saying that one simple “disagreement” would not break the relationship of the Chief Executive and his strategist.

In a media briefing Friday, Deputy Spokesman Abigail Valte said that Malacañang disagrees with Osmeña’s statement though they are open to discussion with Aquino’s political ally.

“You know, one disagreement does not unmake a particular relationship…we’re open to having these discussions,” Valte said.

Valte, though, defended Aquino saying, that under his presidency, the country has experienced five consecutive quarters of “positive” and more than 6.5 percent gross domestic product growth.

“I disagree with the assessment of Senator Osmeña,” Valte said. “You see that someone who is allegedly an awful manager could not have delivered results in the past close to four years that he’s been in office.”

“You have a renewed sense of respect, at least for the country,” Valte said. “I don’t suppose those are things that will come from a President who is an awful manager.”

Valte, however, backtracked the emotions and said that Malacañang and Osmeña has always had a “good relationship” and that they respect his opinion on the energy crisis.

Osmeña earlier said that Aquino and Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla have been “bad managers” in handling the rate hikes that the Manila Electric Cooperative imposed on its consumers.