PNoy left phone in Manila — spokesman

His busy schedule in the United States is apparently not the reason why President Benigno Aquino III is not answering the text messages sent to him by his spokesmen. The reason, according to Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang, is that the President left his cellphone in Manila. "I was informed that he (President) left his phone in Manila," Carandang told House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman when asked if Aquino has answered any of his (Carandang's) text messages. Carandang — as well as Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa — were at the House of Representatives for the presentation of the P4.075-billion proposed 2011 budget of the Office of the President. Carandang said he is communicating with President Aquino through one of the chief executive’s aides. In an interview after the hearing, Lacierda said they have other means of reaching the President. "Meron kaming iba’t ibang paraan tulad nung aide niya, may dalawa kaming tao sa byahe na tini-text namin. He has been properly informed lahat, apart from email, text sa aming mga staff na kasama niya," he said. (We have other means of communicating with the President, like coursing the message through his aides. We are texting two people in the delegation. President Aquino has been properly informed about all the issues here while he’s gone. We also use email.) Lacierda said he doesn’t know if President Aquino left his phone by accident. "We always text the President with two phones so our understanding was dala ni Pangulo yung phone. Normally yung telepono ni Pangulo hindi niya hawak, parating hawak yun ng kanyang aide so kapag kami ay nagte-text kay Pangulo sumasagot naman siya sa amin so yun ang naging lakaran namin sa Palasyo," he said. (We always text the President with two phones so our understanding was he has his phone with him. Normally the President’s phone is in the hands of his aide. He usually responds when we text him. That’s been the system in the Palace.) President Aquino left Manila on Monday night for a seven-day working visit in the US. His presence in the UN General Assembly in New York will be his international debut as head of state. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV