Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. ELOISA LOPEZ
Malacañang is standing by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade amid calls from certain groups for his ouster over his supposed failure to improve the traffic situation, and amid attempts to question his stint as head of the Clark Development Corporation.
“Secretary Tugade, as a presidential appointee, enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,” Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag said over the government-owned Radyo ng Bayan.
Banaag noted that Tugade has been in his post only for a few months.
“He is really doing his best,” she said.
She acknowledged that there are sectors who want Tugade out of his post, but she also sees the efforts put in by the transportation secretary and his department.
“We see that they are doing their best also at their end to solve the traffic problem and everything that has concerns about the [Department of Transportation (DOTr)],” she said.
Conflict of interest
Earlier, the Road Users Protection Advocates (Rupa) asked the Commission on Appointments not to confirm Tugade due to questions on his competence and issues concerning conflict of interest.
But the DOTr said the allegations against the Secretary were baseless, and added that he was an “upright man” who “abhors corruption.”
It also said the attacks against Tugade seemed to be part of an “orchestrated effort” to bring him down.
Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado, who had been an assistant secretary at the former Department of Transportation and Communication, had also questioned Rupa, saying it had not presented any advocacy for road users and that its only goal was to go after Tugade.
Top airline officials also expressed support for Tugade in a full-page newspaper advertisement.