• Rep. Edcel C. Lagman
• Tel No. 4155455
• Mobile No. 0918-9120137
• 08 September 2010

          The Department of Interior and Local Government is headed by a “political eunuch” after Sec. Jesse Robredo has been castrated gradually and deliberately by President Benigno Aquino III on several occasions.

           First, President Aquino stripped Robredo of his statutory power of supervision over the Philippine National Police by designating DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno as solely responsible over “police matters”.

           Under RA No. 6975, entitled “An Act Establishing the Philippine National Police Under a Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government”, the PNP is under the DILG while its Secretary is the “Chairman and Presiding Officer of the National Police Commission.”

           Second, Robredo’s nomination was not submitted by President Aquino to the Commission on Appointments on the pretext that his appointment is only in an acting capacity.

It will be recalled, however, that when President Aquino announced Robredo’s appointment it was not subject to an “acting capacity”.

           Third, President Aquino said that Robredo’s appointment is undergoing further evaluation and he is under probation because he and Robredo have differences in “work style” which surfaced during the last presidential campaign.

           The President’s emerging ambivalence on Robredo is contrary to his prior accolade that he is “very qualified to handle so many portfolios”.

           The doubt on Robredo’s qualifications is an aftermath of the fatal hostage-taking fiasco that has triggered persistent calls for Robredo to either voluntarily resign or be ousted from the Cabinet.

           If Robredo has any self-esteem left, he should resign with alacrity and save himself from further embarrassment and the DILG from a damaged leadership.