Despite denials from Malacanang that DILG Undersecretary Rico E. Puno resigned when Mar Roxas was appointed to replace the late Jesse Robredo, Puno indeed submitted his resignation Aug. 31.
Here’s his letter of resignation:
Making life worth living.
Month: September 2012
From Official Gazette:
Last Friday, former DILG Undersecretary Rico E. Puno submitted his letter of resignation to the President, through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. The President has accepted Mr. Puno’s resignation effective immediately.
Statement of Undersecretary Puno on his resignation, September 11, 2012
As Undersecretary for Peace and Order in the DILG, I am entrusted with duties and responsibilities that involve strict confidence, security and protocol. Violating the confidential nature of my duties may expose people to danger or jeopardize critical operations. Hence, I am duty-bound to act with restraint and circumspection, even when subjected to personal attacks in the mass media. This is why I have opted not to react to the speculative accusations that have been hurled against me by some media organizations.
This is the chronology of events that transpired on August 18 and 19, 2012 as I followed the orders of the President:
Update: Puno resigns. http://www.interaksyon.com/article/42864/dilg-usec-puno-resigns
Speaking to media on the sidelines of the summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Vladivostok, Russia, Aquino disclosed: “Sometime in the early evening (Aug. 18), tumawag sa atin si Secretary Leila de Lima at pinaalalang may mga confidential folders si Secretary Robredo that needed to be secured. I instructed him (Puno) to seal the office of Secretary Robredo to ensure that ‘yung all of these records will be left intact. And that is the extent of the instructions that I gave to him.”
Transcript of the Vladivostok press briefing:
http://www.gov.ph/2012/09/10/for-the-record-interview-with-president-aquino-on-usec-puno-in-vladivostok-russia-on-september-8-2012/
Maawa naman kayo sa mamamayang Pilipino. Alam ko maraming nangyayari dito sa bansa na hindi kanais-nais at dapat lang siguro may kaparusahan para mabigyan kami ng leksyun. Ngunit huwag naman itong parusa sa pamamagitan ng pagkakalat ni Sotto.
Kahit ayaw ko panoorin, nasa TV siya. Siya at ang kanyang kapalpakan ang laman ng Facebook at Twitter. Nakaka-stress. Nakapagbitaw tuloy ako ng hindi kanais-nais na salita. Ako pa ngayon ang nagkapag-commit ng kasalanan.
Kapag meron pa siyang isang speech, baka makakarami ako ng kasalanan. Sa impyerno na talaga ang bagsak ko. Huwag naman po, Panginoon.
Mahirap talaga ma-take ang mga pinagsasabi ni Sotto.
Update: PNoy saves Rico Puno again. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/08/12/pnoy-ordered-robredos-office-lockdown
By Anthony Taberna, ABS-CBN News
ABS-CBN News was able to secure a copy of the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) report on the planned purchase of assault rifles by the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force that involved two procurements of nearly P178 million and P213 million.
The documents show that Robredo received the report on August 8, less than two weeks before the fatal plane crash off Masbate.
ABS-CBN News sources said this report is among the sensitive documents that were in Robredo’s condominium unit at the time of his death.
This is the same condo unit that Puno and some police officials allegedly tried to access on August 19,a day after the plane crash.
Click here for the documents on the arms deal:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/1VpCrVjCGhrXrYGtgiAuSS3ABaPtCEB4W3IeWL8qgKjxWznDwEb4H21sOl2ez/edit
Robredo’s condo
With the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck in Eastern Samar last Friday; 5.9 in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao last Monday, 5.6 in Bukidnon and PAGASA’s statement that they are expecting about 10 more typhoons before the end of the year, their concern has become urgent.
The position will allow him to be high profile, conduct headline- grabbing operations that will change his image from a lackluster, elitist politician to a swashbuckling crime buster. If he succeeds, he would be gliding easily to Malacanang four years from now.
It would be the realization of his long-planned campaign for the presidency, which was shelved in 2010 when he slid to the vice-presidential race (in favor of Aquino) which he lost for a variety of reasons including complacency.
If the DILG position catapults Roxas to the presidency, President Aquino could then consider to have duly repaid the former the huge favor extended to him. In the Philippine culture of debt and gratitude, we say,“Quits na”
Roxas’ appointment at the DILG has nothing to do with good governance. It’s all about Roxas’ presidential plans and the Liberal Party extending its hold on power beyond 2016.
“The Impossible Dream” was Evelio’s favorite song.
The song is from the musical “Man from La Mancha”, which was adapted from Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes’ masterpiece “Don Quixote.”
Precious’ moving tribute to Evelio at the end of the latter’s funeral mass in February 1986 (Evelio’s assassination sparked the first People Power that ended the 20-year Marcos dictatorship), had references to the dreamer Don Quixote character.
Last Tuesday’s celebration of Vietnam’s 67th National Day had a concert featuring Filipino and Vietnamese songs as well as classics and Broadway hits.
Violinist Bui Cong Duy opened the concert with spellbinding Libersfreud (Love’s Joy) by Friedrich “Fritz” Kreisler. After a Vietnamese piece, Nho Que (Missing my Home Village), he did Hatinggabi by Antonio Molina.