Palace not bothered by Bello’s ‘personal’ withdrawal of support

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Thursday shrugged off former Akbayan Representative Walden Bello’s decision to cut ties with President Benigno Aquino III.

“Ayon po sa mismong mga kasamahan ni Representative Bello sa Akbayan partylist, ito ay personal na desisyon ni Kinatawang Walden Bello na iginagalang nila at iginagalang din naman natin,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing.

(According to the colleagues of Representative Bello in Akbayan partylist, this is a personal decision of Representative Walden Bello, which they respect and which we respect.)

“At hindi naman ito nagpapahiwatig ng paghina ‘nung pakikiisa ng Akbayan sapagkat patuloy naman silang naglilingkod sa pamahalaan at patuloy pa rin nilang itinuturing ang kanilang pangkat o organisasyon bilang kaalyado ng pamahalaang Aquino,” he added.

(This does not signify the weakening cooperation of Akbayan because they continue to serve the government and they continue to consider themselves allies of the Aquino administration.)

The lawmaker on Wednesday told media that he resigned as Akbayan representative because he no longer supported Aquino who he claimed was “washing his hands” in the Mamasapano debacle. However, he said he was still a member of the partylist.

READ: Bello resigns as Akbayan representative, calls Aquino disgraceful

Earlier in the month, he said he was among the “principled allies” of the President.

READ: Walden Bello: I’m principled ally of the President

Bello has repeatedly expressed dismay over the actions of Aquino following the botched Mamasapano operation, which left 67 Filipinos dead – including 44 policemen, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and five civilians.