Palace will not comment on leaked cables

Malacañang has refused to comment on the recently leaked cables that were posted online by WikiLeaks, saying it has a policy of not commenting on leaked internal communications of foreign governments. “Noon pa may policy tayo not to comment on purportedly leaked internal communications of foreign governments—mostly, they’re in reference to WikiLeaks. So the standing policy is we do not comment on it," Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang told reporters Tuesday. He pointed out that the United States government has neither confirmed nor denied the cables “so it would be difficult to make any extensive comment on what we’re seeing coming out of WikiLeaks." Carandang gave this statement a day after President Benigno Aquino III defended her mother, the late President Corazon Aquino, from the supposed diplomatic cable from the US Embassy in Manila describing her as “partial icon of morality." Asked on President Aquino’s statement, Carandang said it is only natural for a son to “set the record straight" when it comes to his mother. But as far Malacañang officials are concerned, they would rather not comment on the issue, Carandang added. “In general, we will refrain from commenting on those WikiLeaks reports. Officially, I have to say we are not going to comment on the reports anymore," Carandang said. He, however, said government agencies such as the Department of Justice can use the information stated in WikiLeaks as leads for an investigation. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had earlier said they would look into the information shared by WikiLeaks regarding former First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo’s alleged links to jueteng and smuggling operations. “Not commenting on [the WikiLeaks report] is not the same as not looking into it. If the DOJ feels there’s basis to look into it based on that report, then they are simply doing their job," Carandang said. “We’ll let the DOJ do what it thinks is prudent. In this case, which is if they say they’re going to look into it then they’ll look into it." - KBK, GMA News