Palace insists no strained relations between Arroyo, PNP chief

(Updated 5:13 p.m.) The relationship between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief is not strained, Malacañang said on Tuesday. Relations are still “normal" between Mrs. Arroyo and PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa, contrary to rumors it turned soured after she reportedly snubbed the latter at the Philippine Army’s anniversary on Monday. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Charito Planas made these remarks on Tuesday, adding that the President has no reason to get annoyed at him. “Pareho lang (ang relasyon nila sa dati), minsan naman di mo nakakausap. Di lagi lahat ng movement bibigyan ng kahulugan. Unfair yan sa presidente (The relations between Mrs. Arroyo and Verzosa are normal. It’s just that they do not speak to each other that often. But let’s not put meaning into every gesture of the President because it is unfair to her)," Planas said in an interview on dzXL radio. There is no reason for Mrs. Arroyo to be irritated with Verzosa, who has been quoted as saying he would not follow any “illegal" orders from the President, Planas added. “Si presidente ay hindi mag-issue ng illegal, noon pa man ay di siya nag-issue ng illegal order (The president never issued any illegal order. She does not issue any illegal order)," Planas said. “Huwag naman bawa’t kilos [bigyan ng kahulugan], ano ba naman, sobra na yan… [kahit] pumikit… tumawa o simangot [binibigyan ng kahulugan], tao naman tayo. Bawa’t tao pwede sumimangot bakit siya di ba pwede (Let’s not put meaning into all her actions. That’s too much. Any blink, smile, or frown on her face is given a meaning? She is also human. Can she not frown, too)?" Planas added. Later in the day, deputy presidential spokesperson Gary Olivar said: "I think we are trying to read too much into the body language of someone even as exulted, not exulted, as highly-placed as the President. I think one-day news is enough for that particular story. When you try to stretch it further than that, hindi naman nagkukulang sa mga balita na puwede nating i-report." Olivar stressed that what is important is Verzosa continues to abide by the chain of command and the rule of law. Mrs. Arroyo on Monday did not acknowledge Verzosa’s presence at the Army’s anniversary rites. [See: Arroyo snubs PNP chief during military rites] Also, last Thursday, the President skipped the graduation rites of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) for the first time since she assumed power in 2001. Palace officials said Mrs. Arroyo had a previous appointment connected with the dry spell currently causing serious damage in many of the country’s farmlands. [See: Palace downplays Arroyo’s absence at PNPA rites] These came after reports that President Arroyo was upset with Verzosa’s earlier statement that he would not support a military-backed move to keep her in power beyond June 30, 2010. - LBG/RJAB Jr./RSJ, GMANews.TV