By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Malacañang on Friday clarified that Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of President Rodrigo R. Duterte following the former’s resignation late this week.
When asked to explain the Chief Executive’s remarks that the agriculture chief is talkative but not corrupt, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo agreed that Piñol is not seen as corrupt.
“Hindi, malakas lang. Kasi di ba komentarista dati iyon sa boxing. Ibig sabihin (No, he’s just outspoken. Remember he was a commentator for boxing back then. That means) he enjoys the trust and confidence of the President,” Panelo said.
According to him, the President is actually thinking of tapping Piñol to serve a post at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“Hindi ba ipinaliwanag ni Presidente kagabi, nagkakaproblema sila diyan sa BARMM, kasi hindi gumagalaw, tapos walang timon. (Didn’t the President explain? They’re having issues at the BARMM because there’s not really much movement there),” Panelo said.
“So sinabihan niya si Secretary Piñol, ‘Tulungan mo muna ako dito.’ Pero ano pa rin, qualified di ba kausapin niya muna si Mr. Murad, kasi baka naman hindi pumayag. Kung hindi pumayag, di hindi naman siya siyempre aalis (So he spoke to Secretary Piñol, asking him to help him there. But still, he’ll talk to [BARMM Chief Minister Ebrahim] Murad first. If he won’t agree, of course he can’t leave),” he added.
Piñol has offered to resign amid reports that the Chief Executive is no longer satisfied with his performance.
Senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go bared this before his scheduled oath-taking as senator in Malacañang on Thursday night.
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