Palace tells public: Let’s go easy on new administration

In this May 17, 2016 file photo, a large tarpaulin bearing the face of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has been set up as he starts to accommodate guests and well wishers at the Matina Enclave in Davao City. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Malacañang on Saturday steered clear of reports of bickering within the camp of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, saying that instead of fanning intrigue, everyone should support the incoming administration.

“It’s best if we give our whole support, and other sectors of society should give their support, to the incoming administration. It’s better if we don’t fan the intrigue, speculation and talk about that (the intramural dispute among Duterte’s supporters),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.

Coloma was asked on state-run Radyo ng Bayan for comment on reports of a misunderstanding among Duterte’s supporters, including the camp of Apollo Quiboloy, a self-styled evangelist and a close friend of the Davao City mayor.

READ: Quiboloy hurt in selection of Duterte’s Cabinet members

Quiboloy’s spokesperson, Mike Abe, complained to reporters on Friday that Quiboloy had been shut out by Duterte’s “cordon sanitaire,” preventing him from taking part in the selection of new Cabinet officials.

READ: Sidelined, Quiboloy is hurting

“We don’t have anything to do with it and we are not taking part in it. But as observers… we were once an ‘incoming administration’ and had gone through the process, it would be very helpful if we will all give our support to them (the incoming administration),” Coloma said.

Smooth transition

Coloma said the Aquino administration was hoping for a smooth transition to the Duterte administration, helping the new officials prepare to assume their new roles and responsibilities.

Coloma met with incoming presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Friday.

He said he briefed Panelo on the organizational structure of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the responsibilities of a communications secretary.

Coloma also said he explained to Panelo how the PCOO worked with the media for coverage of presidential events.

Give them a chance

“[M]ost important, we briefed him on the interaction between the mass media and the Office of the President, because [journalists are] our partners [in relaying] information to the people,” Coloma said.

Duterte’s allies also appealed to the public to give the incoming leader’s chosen officials a chance to prove their capabilities before judging them.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, president of Duterte’s party, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), said the nominees should not be condemned immediately because of their failures as officials in past administrations.

“Let us say that this person said something five years ago that you did not like. But that is five years ago or three years or two years ago. Their performance in the Cabinet is a different thing. Let us judge them on their performance,” Pimentel told reporters on Friday.

He said the new Cabinet officials would go through the prescribed process, mainly vetting by the Commission on Appointments.

Sen. Cynthia Villar aired a similar appeal for Duterte’s nominees.

“It is his prerogative to choose whoever he wants to serve in his administration,” Villar said in a radio interview.

Her son, Mark Villar, has accepted Duterte’s offer to head the Department of Public Works and Highways.

No conflict of interest

The appointment has drawn criticism because Mark Villar has just been reelected Las Piñas representative. Conflict of interest is also seen in his taking the job, as his family is a big-time real estate developer.

But Senator Villar said the family was not bothered by the criticisms, adding that she was very proud of her son.

She also disputed the claims of conflict of interest.

“We are not into the construction business. We are in the housing business. We build houses, we don’t build roads. We are not a contractor of the DPWH. So what’s the conflict there?” she said.

Panelo’s appointment as presidential spokesperson has also drawn criticism because he had served as lawyer for the Ampatuan family, whose members are the main accused in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre where 58 people, including 32 journalists, were murdered, in the worst political violence in Philippine history. TVJ

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