PRESIDENTIAL Communications Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. dared administration critics on Tuesday to prove that Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II is misusing government funds to promote his presidential bid, after President Aquino rejected his resignation and asked him to stay in his Cabinet post.
In a news briefing, Coloma assured that Roxas, having been formally endorsed the administration candidate in the 2016 presidential elections, would relinquish his Cabinet seat in due time, allaying fears that public funds may be diverted to Roxas’s campaign after the President asked him to stay in his post a little longer to attend to unfinished tasks.
“Kaya nga ang nais ng Pangulo ay magkaroon ng smooth transition at tinitiyak naman iyan sa pamamagitan ng mga partikular na direktiba kay Secretary Roxas at patuloy din naman niyang tinututukan ang mga ipinapagawa sa kanya ng Pangulo,” Coloma explained.
Brushing aside suggestions by election lawyer Romulo Macalintal that Roxas ought to voluntarily step down out of delicadeza, even as the law allows Roxas to stay until after officially filing his candidacy in October, Coloma indicated that the Roxas will step down soon as the President names his replacement.
“At sa takdang panahon ay ipapatupad na po ang pagpapalit ng pinuno diyan [in Department of the Interior and Local Government] dahil kinikilala naman po na kinakailangan na niya [Roxas] magbitiw at maghanda para doon sa kanyang dapat paghandaan.”
Roxas earlier volunteered to resign his Cabinet post, but Aquino prevailed on him to stay on to complete unfinished business that the President assigned to Roxas, including police capability upgrading and housing projects.
Asked about reported concerns aired that allowing Roxas to retain his post could trigger charges public funds may be used in his presidentiual campaign, Coloma challenged critics to produce a proof to back it up.
“Baka po mas mainam na iyong mga nag-iisip at nagpaparatang niyan ay magbigay ng kongkretong batayan,” Coloma said. “Paano po kaya magagamit iyon [public funds]? Mayroon po ba kayong kongkretong manipestasyon ng inyong sinasabi hinggil diyan?” he asked.