Palace hints Aquino will accept Dureza resignation from MinDA

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is likely to accept the resignation of former presidential adviser Jesus Dureza from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Malacañang hinted Saturday. Interviewed on government-run dzRB radio, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the present administration has many allies who are concerned with Mindanao. “In all likelihood tatanggapin yan and we will assign a person to replace Sec. Dureza. Hindi natin kaalyado si Sec. Dureza at marami sa ating kaalyado malaki ang concern sa Mindanao. I’m sure there are plenty of people the president can appoint to replace Sec. Dureza," he said. (In all likelihood, the president will accept Dureza’s resignation and name a replacement. Dureza is not our political ally. I am sure there are plenty of people the president can appoint as a replacement.) But Lacierda admitted he has no information on who the president will pick for the position. Dureza had offered his resignation from MinDA to give Aquino a free hand in selecting the officials he will work with in the next six years. Meanwhile, Lacierda lashed at speculations on possible replacements for Mark Lapid as head of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA). According to him, he had talked to Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, who said he will not replace Lapid. On the other hand, Lacierda said there is no information to confirm, at least for now, that Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency head Dionisio Santiago will be replaced. — LBG, GMANews.TV