Aquino allies lobby for Robredo in newspaper ad

Days after his hold on his post was perceived to be under threat, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo received a virtual lobbying boost from his supporters. In a half-page newspaper ad, former officials and personalities who took part in the campaign of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III stressed they are "standing by" the embattled Robredo.

"We stand by you today in solidarity, and in the coming days, as you bring your integrity, competence, and commitment to bring excellence to local governments and the police. This we do for a most worthy public servant," they said in their paid ad. Many of the signatories actively took part in President Aquino's successful run for the presidency. Robredo is one of three Cabinet secretaries whose names will not be submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation – an indication he may not stay at his post for long. He is also receiving flak for the government lapses that led to the bloody end of the Aug. 23 Manila hostage crisis. Eight Hong Kong tourists, including the before hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, were killed in the standoff. Difference in style On Monday, Aquino admitted that "differences in style" prompted him to appoint Robredo to the top DILG post only in an acting capacity. Still, the President said he was likely to keep Robredo in his Cabinet. As to how long, however, he did not say. (See: Aquino admits ‘differences in style’ with Robredo) But according to the signatories, they stood by Robredo when he instituted programs that "reduced poverty incidence, defined and enforced standards through which public services should be delivered, reduced red tape, and provided citizens with an honest and competent government." They are standing by Robredo as he "opened all public documents, deliberations, decisions and contracts to the public." "We stood by you as you provided every citizen with a voice and choice through his participation in planning and implementation of the budget and development of programs," they said. Defeated senatorial bets Nereus Acosta and Yasmin Lao, and Yolanda Ong, who helped handle Aquino's presidential campaign, were among the signatories in the ad. Former socio-economic planning secretary Solita Monsod, Carmencita Abella, president of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation, also among the signatories. Robredo was a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay award for government service in 2000. The roster of signatories also includes National Statistics Office administrator Tomas Africa, former Isabela Governor Grace Padaca, former Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Rene Bañez, former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela, former secretaries Nieves Confesor (labor), Elisea Gozun and Victor Ramos (environment), and former Education Undersecretary Juan Miguel Luz. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV