Palace exec to Lagman: Aquino has last say on our govt stint

A Malacañang official chided an ally of former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Tuesday for pushing his and two colleagues’ resignation over the Aug. 23 Manila hostage crisis, stressing it is President Benigno Aquino III who has the last say on their stint in government. In a radio interview, Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma said that while he respects House Minority Leader Rep. Edcel Lagman, he cannot accommodate the latter's resignation call. "Ang amin namang paglilingkod [ay] ayon sa pagtitiwala sa aming kakayahan. Sa anumang oras sa palagay ng pangulo ay di na buo ang kanyang kumpyansa sa amin, maaari siyang maghirang ng ibang tao. Yan ang kalakaran sa buhay ng Cabinet member (Our service is based on the trust we have from the president. At any time he loses confidence in us, he can always replace us. That is part of the live of any Cabinet member)," Coloma said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Coloma then said he is ready to go through the proverbial eye of the needle before lawmakers who form the bicameral Commission on Appointments. Still, he added he will respect the opinions of the lawmakers in the CA, including Lagman. "Karapatan naman ng kahit sinong mambabatas na maglahad ng opinion na yan (It is the right of any lawmaker to issue such an opinion)," he said of Lagman. Resignation Coloma cited earlier reports quoting Lagman as saying he must resign from his post, along with Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang. Lagman had also demanded the resignation of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, noting Robredo’s department supervises the Philippine National Police. The PNP has taken a lot of flak for the August 23 hostage crisis that left eight tourists from Hong Kong dead. But Coloma said he is willing to step down anytime, especially if Aquino loses trust and confidence in him. "Ako tumutugon sa tawag ng paglilingkod. Kung sa palagay ng pangulo ay di na angkop ang aking ginagawa sa kanyang expectation malaya siyang humirang ng iba at ako, tatanggapin ko ang kanyang decision. Nalathala na rin yan, nasabi ko na yan ... I am willing to step down anytime. I serve at the pleasure of the president (If the president is not happy with my performance he is free to replace me and I will accept it. I have said it before, I am willing to step down anytime. I serve at the pleasure of the president)," he said. Besides, he said Aquino is observing the ongoing developments in the investigation of the incident, and will act accordingly. "Ang pangulo nag-oobserba at tinitingnan ang kaganapan. Sa takdang panahon magdedesisyon siya sa bagay na yan (The president is observing the developments. At the proper time he will make his decision)," he said. On Monday, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said some government officials because of the handling of the hostage crisis at Quirino Grandstand. (See: Palace: Heads will roll in govt over hostage crisis) Asked if President Benigno Aquino III will spare no one should the IIRC (Incident Investigation and Review Committee) recommend that certain government officials be held accountable for the incident, Lacierda said: "He (Aquino) promised heads will roll. That's the statement he has made." So far, no government official has formally offered to resign in light of the hostage crisis, although some officials have issued statements to media their willingness to leave their posts should it be necessary, among them Coloma and DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno. — RSJ, GMANews.TV