Drilon: Taking easy way out not Aquino’s style

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III got strong support from a key Senate ally who even commended him for not accepting the resignation of his budget secretary.

“I am not surprised. I know the President. His trust and confidence on the members of his Cabinet is not based on what may be convenient,” Senate President Frankin Drilon said in a statement Friday.

Drilon was reacting to Aquino’s decision earlier in the day to reject the resignation of Budget Secretary Florencio Abad who was implicated in the use of funds under Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) other than which these were intended for.

The Supreme Court in a recent ruling declared that such use was unconstitutional.

In rejecting Abad’s resignation, Drilon said the President sent a strong message that he would always stand by what was right.

“Amid all the political noise and early posturing for 2016, a weak President would’ve taken the easy way out. But that is not PNoy’s style of governance,” he said.

(PNoy is for President Noy, his monicker.)

“Having been a Cabinet member myself, I can understand Secretary Abad’s offer to resign. He has been the target of a vicious propaganda campaign. And a Cabinet member would always want to spare the President from controversy.”

“But clearly, Abad still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President. And I fully support the President’s decision not to accept his resignation,” Drilon added.