‘Bad news’ bearers will keep Cabinet posts — Lacierda

The Cabinet members who President Benigno Aquino III said kept on bringing him bad news need not worry about their jobs as long as they remain competent, a Malacañang official said on Tuesday. At a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said bringing bad news to the President is not a ground for termination. “The President is not allergic to bad news. It’s part and parcel of his work to receive all news whether good or bad. So it’s not a ground to terminate someone based on the fact that he provides bad news," he said. “Incompetence would be one but not certainly a bearer of bad news," he added. Aquino bared last week that “three or two" members of his official family have been constantly bringing him bad news. He did not identify these officials. Lacierda said he does not know who Aquino was referring to. He also said there is no truth to observations that Aquino only wants good news. “He will not be doing this country a service kung panay good news lang ang pakikinggan ni Pangulo. We also have a share of bad news and the President, as being the Chief Executive of the land, you have to know all these," he said. He said it should be remembered that the President has so many concerns. “He looks at all the problems of all the departments, the concerns of the republic, and also he has global concerns—international concerns. So it would really be very, very difficult, he wouldn’t have the time to really come before a meeting and just out of the blue decide on something," he said. “It’s really important for Cabinet secretaries to provide recommendations as well and we discuss the problems and we discuss the recommendations. It makes the meeting fast and with a proposed solution, the discussion becomes more fruitful in a sense. Mas mabilis ang takbo, you don’t focus only on the problems but you’re already focused on the resolution," he added. - KBK, GMA News