Palace: President's aunt resigned and was not axed from govt post

Margarita “Tingting" Cojuangco, an aunt of President Benigno Aquino, resigned and was not removed from her post as head of the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), Malacañang said on Monday. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said President Aquino appointed former Upi Mayor Ruben Platon as new PPSC head upon Cojuangco’s recommendation. “Recommendee si Platon, ni-recommend niya kay PNoy so in-appoint si Mayor Platon. Mayor siya, nag-resign as mayor. It’s upon the recommendation of Tingting Cojuangco that he got appointed," Ochoa said in an interview on dzBB radio. Ochoa said, “practically nag-resign siya (she practically resigned)." Cojuangco is the wife of former Rep. Jose “Peping" Cojuangco Jr., the younger brother of Aquino's mother the late President Corazon Aquino. She was appointed to the PPSC position in 2004 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Ochoa said Cojuangco realized that Aquino was determined not to allow relatives among his stable of government officials. “Ang pangulo is very strict in enforcing ang policy na walang kamag-anak sa kanyang stable ng opisyales. Because of that, si Madame Tingting realizes that," he said. On Sunday, deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte announced that Platon had replaced Cojuangco. – VVP/YA, GMA News