Palace lashes back at Arroyo over leadership comment

Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s claim that there is a “vacuum of leadership" in the Aquino administration did not sit well with Palace officials, particularly presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, who accused the former president of “sourgraping." “I think the statement of former President Arroyo is sourgraping," Lacierda said at a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday. “She believes that she is politically being harassed because of the recent turn of events with respect to her son." He was referring to the tax evasion charges filed against Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo and his wife Angela for their alleged failure to file income tax returns from 2004 to 2009. Lacierda denied that there is a vacuum of leadership in the current administration, much more a vacuum of moral leadership. “If there is one thing clear, there is no vacuum of moral leadership here. We believe that we have a responsibility to fulfill and we intend to fulfill our obligation to the Filipino people," he said. Lacierda assured the public that the Aquino administration is on top of the situation amid the current problems of the country. “We are exploring options which are not papogi lamang and that’s why we want to make sure that the solutions we are going to offer to the public are something we can live with and that will not in the long term affect further our nation," he said. Lacierda also said the present government is not demonizing the opposition party Lakas-Kampi-CMD or the former president. “Wala pong personal vendetta sa dating pangulo," he said. He assured the public that the present government will be providing “each and every member of the opposition the due process that all of us deserve so she should not worry about being harassed." “Lahat po yan ay base sa due process. We believe in the Constitution, this is a government of laws and not of men," he added. - KBK, GMA News