Soliman: No reason for Aquino to step down; critics should wait for 2016 polls

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman. FILE PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines — Amid mounting calls for President Aquino to resign over Mamasapano debacle, one of his closest Cabinet members has dismissed the call saying, there is no “crisis” that warrants him to step down.

Social Welfare Secretay Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said in an interview in Tacloban City, that instead of calling for the President’s resignation, his critics should wait for next year’s elections.

“Is there really a crisis? Walang crisis sa administrasyon (There’s no crisis in the administration,” Soliman said.

“Ang amin lang pakiusap, huwag lang nilang guluhin; huwag silang gumamit ng dahas (We only ask that they don’t sow chaos; that they don’t resort to violence,” Soliman said, referring to those who wished President Aquino’s downfall without naming them. “Ang aking pakiusap, 400 plus days na lang, election na (My plea, 400 days are left [in President Aquino’s term] and it will soon be elections),” she added.

Kung ano man ang gusto nilang plata porma, bakit di nila ihain sa mga mamamayan at ang mamamayan ang pipili sa isang demokratikong pamamaraan (Whatever platform they wish to push, why don’t they present it to the citizenry and let the citizens make their choice in a democratic way?” she added.

Soliman was in Tacloban Monday for a fora with beneficiaries of the government’s cash dole program, the 4Ps (Pamilyang Pilipino Pantawid Program) held at the Tacloban convention center.

The call for Aquino to resign stemmed from his alleged mishandling of the operations to arrest international terrorist Marwan in Mamasapano,

Maguindanao that resulted in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos.

In Eastern Samar, its provincial board passed a resolution expressing their support to the administration of Aquino.

The resolution was passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan during their regular session last Friday, said Vice Governor Marcelino Picardal.

According to Picardal, there is no valid reason why the President should step down from office saying that he is doing well in handling the country’s affairs.

“Our resolution is basically to show our support to the President,” Picardal said in a phone.

The Eastern Samar vice governor said that the President has been giving his province — one of the poorest in the country — the necessary help.

He said that when their province was hit by supertyphoon Yolanda and typhoon Ruby, Aquino provided assistance, aside from visiting the province.

“The resolution reflects our collective sentiments that we don’t want him to step down,” Picardal said.

Meanwhile, Soliman has said that all the needed assistance are being provided by the government to the families of the Fallen 44.

“And he was not insensitive to them. I was there all throughout with his meeting with the relatives,” Soliman said.

Reports have indicated that the relatives of the 44 SAF commandos were disappointed over the actuations of Aquino, claiming that he was insensitive to them.