Malacañang dismisses remarks about Mar Roxas as 'troublemaker'

(Updated 11:12 P.M.) Malacañang over the weekend brushed aside speculations that former Senator and defeated vice presidential bet Manuel Roxas II may be more of a troublemaker than a troubleshooter once he gets a government post in the Aquino administration. Asked to comment on such speculations, Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said in an interview on state0run radio dzRB that such mud-slinging is unfair to Roxas. “Unfair ‘yan for Senator Mar Roxas... Hindi siya troublemaker at napakaganda ng expertise ni Senator Roxas. Hindi naman tamang sabihin magiging troublemaker si Senator Roxas (That’s is unfair for Senator Roxas. He is not a troublemaker and he has got fine expertise. It is not right to say that Senator Roxas will be troublemaker)," she said. “Naniniwala kaming magiging malaking tulong talaga si former Senator Roxas kung sakaling tanggapin niya ang magiging alok ni Pangulong Aquino. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng kabayanan si Senator Mar naging katuwang ni Pangulong Aquino (We believe former Senator Roxas will be a great help in case he accepts the posts. It’s well-known fact that Senator Mar has been a partner of President Aquino), Valte said. Roxas heads the Liberal Party, which took Aquino as its standard bearer in the last election. But Roxas is also allied with the “Balay" group, one of two factions in the Palace. While he has no official role in government yet, Roxas has been seen in some of Aquino’s events. He was the “unofficial adviser" on business matters during President Aquino’s first working trip to the US in September. On Saturday, Malacañang issued a statement saying Roxas was among the personalities who attended the 58th anniversary of the League of Cities of the Philippines at the Century Park Hotel in Manila, where Aquino delivered a speech. Among the posts rumored for Roxas's position include that of executive secretary, finance secretary, and foreign affairs secretary. — VS, GMANews.TV