Aquino still inclined to re-assign buddy

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III said he was still considering giving his friend, resigned Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno, a government position but not in the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Puno mentioned in previous interviews that the President was eyeing a nice and quiet job for him. Aquino told reporters on Wednesday, September 12: “No, the quiet (job) is just his wish.”
 
“Right now, it’s (new job) under consideration but there is nothing confirmed. We’ll finish so many things but not in the DILG …if that could materialize,” Aquino said in an ambush interview.

Asked if he could say that Puno was not facing investigation for the scuttled rifles deal or the Robredo condominium incident, the President only cleared Puno on the condominium incident.

He explained in Filipino that while he indeed had ordered Puno to just secure the offices of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo after the latter’s plane crashed off the waters of Masbate on August 18, Puno probably thought he meant all documents including those in Robredo’s apartment in Quezon City. “My understanding is in-assume na niya na lahat ng offices pinapa-secure ko. Understandably rin, itong si Superintendent (Oliver) Tanseco ay nagpaalala rin sa kanya na nag-uuwi ng mga papeles, dokumento si Secretary Robredo,” he said.

On the overpriced rifles deal of the Philippine National Police, Aquino said he wants to continue the investigation on it. The probe would include all officials involved in the bidding and approval of the deal, he said in Filipino. “‘Yung sa investigation, alam naman po niyo isa sa tinask (task) ko kay Secretary Robredo itong sa riple, ano. Bakit tila ‘yung… Bakit naging mula maraming interesado naging isa na lang? Bakit ‘yung ripleng tila nanalo or mukhang—‘yung parang kaisa-isang bidder na nga e hindi angkop doon sa mga hinihiling ng PNP ‘nung umpisa? So ‘yun ang kailangang makita pa rin. Ano ba ang mga depekto doon sa specs? Ano ang depekto doon a proseso? Sino ba ang mga responsible? Parang merong tila may kukunin na mas mahal na hindi angkop doon sa hinihingi ng gagamit na ahensya,” Aquino said.
 
Asked if Puno is included in the probe, the President did not respond directly but stressed the investigation everyone who took part in deciding on the deal: “Well, gusto kong ma-check ‘yung buong proseso at gusto kong ma-check bakit ganito ang resulta? So lahat ng involved doon syempre dadaan doon sa pagsisiyasat para malaman nga paano nangyari ito lalo doon sa riple.” – Rappler.com