Palace: Still no action on Lacson resignation

Secretary Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Monday said there was still “no action” on Secretary Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s “irrevocable resignation” as President Benigno Aquino III’s point man in the rehabilitation of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” damaged areas.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the President had accepted on Friday Lacson’s proposal to transfer his office’s functions to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

“No action has been taken on Secretary Lacson’s irrevocable resignation,” Coloma said in a statement.

“What has been transmitted to the Office of the President is a review of the work done by the Office of the Presidential Assistant on Recovery and Rehabilitation and its proposal to bring about a transition whereby its present functions will be folded in and absorbed by a permanent institution such as the NDRRMC.”

Coloma said the proposal would likely be presented to different Cabinet departments “directly involved or stakeholders” in the rehabilitation and recovery efforts.

“Their inputs would be gathered and there would be a meeting to come up with a comprehensive view on the matter,” he told reporters.

“As this transition proposal concerns vital policy, it will likely be discussed by the Cabinet members concerned with the President,” he added. Christian V. Esguerra