MANILA, Philippines – In his first interview since his resignation, Rico Puno spoke out and denied all allegations against him, as well as dropped hints that he might not attend the Senate probe on him scheduled for Friday, September 14.

Puno is under fire for allegedly attempting to enter the condominium of his late boss, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, within 24 hours of Robredo’s plane crash on August 18. Speculations grew after it was revealed that there was a supposed ongoing investigation led by Robredo on anomalous gun procurements that mentioned Puno.

In an exclusive GMA interview on 24 Oras with Jessica Soho on Tuesday, September 11, Puno said he has not yet personally received the invitation to the planned probe on him by the Senate, organized by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Puno told Soho he is now on vacation, hinting that he may not attend on Friday. “Eh, nakabakasyon na ako.”

Later, in a separate interview on Aksyon TV, Puno said he would attend the probe once he receives the invitation.

Robredo knew

In the GMA interview, Puno also revealed that he had planned to resign from his position as undersecretary even before Robredo died in a plane crash Friday, August 18, and revealed that he had told Robredo of his resignation in Cebu, before Robredo boarded the ill-fated plane.

“Kami ni Sec Robredo magkasama noong August 18 sa Cebu,” he said. “Nagbubulungan kaming dalawa, sabi ko nga sa kanya, ‘Boss, nabli na natin ang baril, okay na ang PNP. Tapos na po ang trabaho ko sa Presidente (I was with Sec Robredo last August 18 in Cebu. I whispered to him, ‘Boss, we bought the guns, the PNP is okay. The work the President asked me to is done),’” he said.

Puno said Robredo had said “okay.”

Puno also said that while Pesident Aquino did not tell him to go to Robredo’s condominium, he said Aquino ordered him to secure all documents. Since he had heard that Robredo had documents in his condominium as well, he said he decided to go there.

“Very specific ‘yung order [of the President],” said Puno. “[Aquino said] ‘Marami akong pinagagawa kay Sec Robredo na hindi dapat ilabas, makopya o masira’ (There’s a lot I asked Sec Robredo to do that shouldn’t be leaked, copied or damaged).”

Once there, Puno said he did not attempt to enter the condominium unit but stayed in the lobby, and instead sent Supt Oliver Tanseco, who was with him to go the actual unit. Tanseco reportedly told the househelp not to let anyone enter the condominium, his way of securing Robredo’s documents.

Aquino has said he only ordered Puno to go to Robredo’s offices but defended Puno’s decision to go to his residence, saying Puno must have thought there were documents there as well.

Not into jueteng

Puno also denied that he knew of any ongoing investigations being conducted on him by Robredo, nor that he tried to take any documents that related to supposed investigation against him. He said there was nothing overpriced about the gun procurements that documents suggest he is part of, and denied any knowledge on allegations that he receives jueteng money.

“Wala akong kinakalaman diyan, wala akong hinihingi, wala akong pinoprotektahan (I don’t know anything about that. I have not asked for anything, I am not protecting anyone),” he said.

Aquino’s close friend also said he did not understand where the sudden accusations were coming from.

“’Yun ang hindi ko lang mainitindihan kung bakit may gusto manira sa akin at gawan ako ng mga storya (That’s what I don’t understand. Why someone wants to ruin me or make stories about me),” he said. It could be part of a “conspiracy,” he said without elaborating.

On Tuesday, Puno announced his resignation from the post of Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary to give newly appointed DILG Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas a free hand in choosing his team. – Rappler.com