MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino on Monday said “there is no announcement yet for my candidacy.” INQUIRER PHOTO
Malacañang on Tuesday defended officials of the executive department who were spotted accompanying Liberal Party standard-bearer and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II in his rounds in the province.
Roxas was in Cebu on Monday to attend events at Cebu Normal University and Cebu Coliseum. Accompanying him in a multi-sectoral gathering were presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, Health Secretary Janette Garin and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino.
De Lima, who is considering running for Senate, said she would finalize her plans for the 2016 elections on her birthday on Aug. 27.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., during a televised press briefing, said Cabinet members served as the alter ego of the President and their attendance to Aquino’s events was justified.
Aquino was also in Cebu on Monday to inspect two infrastructure projects.
Coloma also said the executive’s agencies had field offices in provinces that Cabinet members could visit.
“Halos lahat din naman ng aming mga tanggapan ay mayroong mga regional or field offices at kailangan din ay maging conversant ang mga Cabinet member sa mga local issues; pati doon sa pakikipagtalakayan sa media, palaging mayroon doong component na regional or local concerns na siyang pinagtutuunan ng pansin (Almost all agencies have regional or field offices and Cabinet members need to be conversant when it comes to local issues; and even discussions with media, there is always a regional or local concern that needs to be addressed),” he said.
Coloma said his fellow Cabinet members would also find it useful to meet with stakeholder groups.
“Ang batayang prinsipyo na sinusunod ay dapat ay ginagampanan ‘yung kanilang tungkulin at sa aking palagay ay sumusunod naman sila sa prinsipyong ito (The basic principle that should be followed is that they should be doing their job and in my opinion they are following this principle),” he explained.
He said even the advertisements of Garin and PhilHealth Director Risa Hontiveros, who ran for the Senate and lost, were part of their official function.
“Ang ginagampanan nila ay public education, public information; nagpapaliwanag sila tungkol sa benepisyo at serbisyo ng PhilHealth; at ang ginagamit nila ay pondo ng PhilHealth; at lahat ng ito ay naaayon sa batas (What they are doing is public education, public information; they are explaining the benefits and services of PhilHealth; and they are using the funds of PhilHealth; and all that is in accordance with the law),” he said. Kristine Angeli Sabillo/RC
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