Poe camp twits Roxas aide: ‘Friendly reminder’ misplaced

Senator Grace Poe’s spokesman, Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian. FILE PHOTO

The “friendly reminder” of the camp of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to Senator Grace Poe about appointing Cabinet members was appreciated but it was “misplaced,” Poe’s spokesman said on Thursday.

“We appreciate the friendly reminder of Cong. Barry, after all, we know he means well,” Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said in a statement, referring to Roxas’ spokesman, Akbayan Representative Barry Gutierrez.

“Unfortunately though, his reminder is misplaced as he erroneously interpreted the context of the statement of Sen. Poe,” Gatchalian said.

Poe’s spokesman was reacting to Gutierrez’s “friendly reminder” that Cabinet members are co-terminus with the President who appointed them.

READ: Roxas camp reminds Poe: Aquino cabinet members to step down in June

This, following Poe’s statement that she would not retain the heads of at least three departments — the Department of Transportation and Communications, Bureau of Immigration, and Department of Agriculture— should she get elected president in May.

“A friendly reminder to Senator Poe: The law is clear—specifically, Book IV, Chapter 10, Sec. 44 of the Administrative Code of the Philippines states that members of the Cabinet are co-terminus with the President who appointed them,” Roxas’s spokesman said.

“This means that they don’t have to be removed, as they are sure to step down from their posts after the term of the President. FYI (For your Information).”

But Gatchalian said that if Gutierrez had only read through the transcripts, he would know that senator was just reacting to a question as to the composition of her Cabinet in the event she wins.

“Her statement is one that reflects inclusiveness. Sen. Poe believes that in forming a Cabinet she will consider even Cabinet members who are part of the current administration and have shown credibility in discharging their mandates,” Poe’s spokesman said.

READ: If elected, Poe says she will remove Abaya, Henares, Alcala

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“She never said she will ax current Cabinet members before the end of the term of PNoy (President Benigno Aquino III’s nickname) because she knows very well that she doesn’t have the mantle to do so. She was simply referring to the composition of her proposed Cabinet—that will include people from all sectors, parties that can contribute to nation building,” Gathalian added. IDL