Drilon defends Abad against nepotism tag

Senate President Franklin Drilon and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon came to the defense of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, who has been criticized for having several relatives in government.

“’Yan po kilala ko po ang pamilyang Abad, matino pong pamiilya ‘yan at marurunong. Kaya ‘yan po ay nakakalungkot na sa lahat ng kawani ng gobyerno, si Butch Abad at ang kanyang anak na si Julia na s’yang nanunugkulan bilang miyembro ng gabinete at PMS (ang natitira). ‘Yan po ay wala po akong masabi dyan, matinong pamilya ‘yan,” Drilon said in an interview over DWIZ on Tuesday.

(I know the Abad family. They are decent and intelligent. That is why it is saddening that among government officials, Abad and his daughter Julia (are the ones being hit). I cannot say anything negative about them. They are a good family.)

He was referring to Abad’s daughter, Julia, who heads the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).

“Nakakalungkot dahil lang po sa alam mo malapit na ang halalan, isa o dalawang taon na lang, lumalabas na itong lahat ng klase ng intriga. E sana ‘wag namang ganung klaseng tapunan ng putik,” Drilon added.

(It’s saddening that just because the elections are coming in less than two years, these intrigues have been surfacing. I hope we avoid this kind of mudslinging.)

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported last week that Abad and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje have the most number of relatives in government with nine each, based on their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth for 2013.

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