Assistant Communications Secretary Marie Banaag —RTV MALACAÑANG VIDEO GRAB
Malacañang Palace on Friday said Sen. Leila de Lima might only be feeding “misinformation” to divert the public’s attention from her alleged involvement in the illegal narcotics trade and her affair with her former driver Ronnie Dayan.
Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag issued the statement a day after De Lima named Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go as the one who called Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to reinstate Supt. Marvin Marcos, the police official allegedly involved in the killing of Albuera, Leyte, Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.
“Doon sa punto ni Secretary De Lima, hindi natin siya pwedeng sabihan kung anong pwede niyang isipin at kung anong pwede niyang, isipin at sabihin. Kaya kung sa kanyang banda po, kay Senator De Lima, kung gusto niyang sabihin ‘yun, walang problema po sa atin kasi anytime po they can, they can feed any misinformation in order to, para magkagulo ang ranks ng mga nagta-trabaho sa administrasyon (On De Lima’s point, we can’t tell her what to say and think. If in her opinion, that’s what she wants to say, there’s no problem with us, because anytime they can feed any misinformation in order to confuse the ranks of those working in the administration),” Banaag said in a press briefing.
Banaag said De Lima’s allegations could be a tactic to create division and distrust among the Cabinet members and Palace officials.
“Ang sinasabi natin may posibilidad na ’yung mga opinion ni Senator De Lima, ’yung kanyang mga sasabihin ay pwedeng pwede, posibilidad na pwedeng para magulo at para magkawatak-watak at magka may suspicion sa ranks ng mga nasa administrasyon (What we’re saying is there’s a possibility that the opinions of Senator De Lima, her statements were made to cause confusion and division and create suspicion among the ranks of the administration),” she added.