President Benigno Aquino III, who earlier said he would not accept the courtesy resignation of Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno, should instead allow his embattled friend to go on a leave of absence pending investigation into the allegations hurled against him.
This was the "unsolicited advice" given by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri on Sunday, in the wake of accusations that Puno is a recipient of jueteng payoffs.
Zubiri also scored Puno over how the undersecretary mishandled the Aug. 23 hostage tragedy.
Puno volunteered to resign from his post once Aquino arrives from the United States this week. However, the President refused Puno's offer, saying the undersecretary is entitled to due process.
Puno and the president are longtime friends and fellow gun enthusiast.
"I would suggest to Usec. Puno to take a leave of absence. That is my suggestion if the President would not accept his resignation. My unsolicited advice to the President is why don't you accept the leave of absence from Usec. Puno," Zubiri said in Pilipino in an interview on dzBB radio.
The senator also said that if Puno's appointment to the DILG continues to be criticized, the President should transfer him to a different office instead if Mr. Aquino can't let him go in his government. "Why not to the Office of the President, or to the Presidential Management Staff?" he asked.
PNoy must prove it's no longer business as ususal
Zubiri also said that Aquino should also show that his government is different from the previous administration where close friends were supposedly shielded from prosecution.
"I have spoken with other people who are very frustrated," Zubiri said, noting that there seemed to be not much difference from the way the previous administration handled cases involving friends.
“It's business as usual," Zubiri added.
"Let’s show the people that this government is different. If there is an accusation, then maybe the President should ask for you to take a leave of absence pending investigation," the senator said.
Puno and retired Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Versos were among those in government linked by former Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz at a Senate inquiry on Tuesday as recipients of money from the illegal numbers game jueteng. Both have denied the allegations.
Last week, Puno said he would resign after Aquino returns from the US so that the President might have a "free hand" in deciding how to deal with hi alleged involvement in the jueteng scandal.
Puno was earlier criticized for how his office supposedly bungled the Aug. 23 hostage crisis in Manila that claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong nationals. Puno, the civilian officer who oversees Philippine National Police operations, admitted he had no training in handling hostage crises.
He and Aquino are longtime friends. His profile provided by Malacañang shows he lacks experience in actual law enforcement, and has no background in the strategy and management of crises such as the Aug. 23 incident. —VS
