MANILA, Philippines – The only certainty is that Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno is out of his post. Who will replace him is not as clear.

President Benigno Aquino III confirmed on Sunday, September 9, that Puno is leaving his post, possibly to be replaced by current Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Nicanor Bartolome.

But on Monday, September 10, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters that Bartolome’s appointment was not yet certain.

“Ang sagot ni Pangulong Aquino: ‘He might replace Usec. Puno.’ So hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang definite. Let’s wait for a definite announcement,” he said.

Lacierda added that the President has yet to discuss Puno’s replacement with newly appointed Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas, who will take the place of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. He echoed the President and emphasized that Roxas would be “given a free hand to come up with his team in [the] DILG.”

Lacierda also denied that there is a contradiction between Aquino’s statements on Bartolome, and his assurance to Roxas that he could select his own people. He said that while Bartolome was raised as a possibility, Aquino did not categorically say anything about him being the final pick.

Puno’s silence

President Aquino said he had asked Bartolome to consider leaving his current post early, before his scheduled mandatory retirement on March 16, 2013. This confirms previous reports by Rappler published Tuesday, September 4, that Puno was already on his way out of the DILG even before Robredo died in a plane crash.

Puno, a close friend of the President, was a former gun supplier. He was reportedly the subject of various complaints that eventually reached the President, while Bartolome was being persuaded by emissaries to replace Puno.

Bartolome on Monday morning said he was willing to do whatever it was the President wanted him to do to serve the nation.

It is also unclear if Puno will get another position once he is taken out of the DILG. Aquino said he would ask Puno if he would be interested in another government post.

In recent days, Puno has been under fire for attempting to enter Robredo’s condominium, within 24 hours of the plane crash when he was still missing.

Aquino said he had ordered Puno to secure Robredo’s offices because of sensitive documents on Saturday, August 18, the same night of the crash, but denied he told Puno to go to Robredo’s condominium. 

Puno has yet to comment on the incident or on leaving the DILG. – Rappler.com