Stop promoting Roxas, LP, says Colmenares

Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

President Benigno Aquino III’s official spokespersons have been warned against using Malacañang air time and other government resources to promote the ruling Liberal Party’s standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and his deputy, Abigail Valte, should restrain themselves from going all-out to boost Roxas’ candidacy because they were still receiving their salaries from Malacañang, said Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.

“They should openly be answering questions of public interest and not on the interests of the LP and Roxas,” said Colmenares in a text message.

Instead of reporting on Roxas’ next sorties or the LP’s growing numbers or Roxas’ prospective running mate, Colmenares said the Palace spokespersons should answer why the MRT was not functioning, why the President was against lowering income taxes, why Mr. Aquino was blocking the scrapping of the value-added tax on power rates, and why the government was so liberal about providing sovereign guarantees to private concessionaires for trains and water distribution.

Forming coalition

Colmenares is part of the Makabayan bloc in the House which is reportedly in discussions with other parties about forming a coalition to support Sen. Grace Poe for president in 2016.

But Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, one of the parties in the Poe coalition talks, said that Lacierda and Valte “have not crossed the line so far to become Roxas’ spokespersons.”

As of now, Aggabao said, Lacierda and Valte have carried themselves as “professionals” in reporting about Roxas and LP events and issues where President Aquino was present or involved.

“They know they are paid by taxpayers to work only for the President. I will grant that they will know what to do when the time comes,” said Aggabao.
Gil Cabacungan