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FOR
still unknown reasons, President Arroyo wants the chief
of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC),
Abraham Abesamis, to step down, sparking speculation it
was tied to the controversial national broadband network
(NBN) deal. Officials, however, quickly shot down this
theory.
Commissioner Abesamis’s chief of staff Lucio Espinoza
Jr. said their office received a call from Malacañang
Tuesday morning. Abesamis was told that the President
wanted to talk to him about his replacement. At press
time, Abesamis was still waiting for the President’s
call.
There
are unconfirmed reports that Atty. Ruel Canobas,
political affairs undersecretary, will replace Abesamis,
who was appointed to the NTC in November last year. He
had replaced former NTC chief Ronald Solis.
“The
commissioner will abide by whatever orders will be
relayed by the President,” said Espinoza.
But
Espinoza clarified that Abesamis’s sudden replacement
has nothing to do with the controversial broadband
network project.
“That’s
entirely untrue. We have nothing to do with the
broadband project,” he said.
A source
said “someone very close to the President wanted
Abesamis replaced.” Another source said Transportation
and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza on Tuesday
appealed to the President not to remove Abesamis.
Retired
military officials flocked to the NTC to visit Abesamis.
The NTC chief himself used to head the Armed Forces’
communications arm before his retirement. |
