Palace on diversion of calamity funds (4:47 p.m.)

MANILA -- A Malacanang official hit back at opposition candidates Liberal Party standard bearer Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and Nacionalista Party bet Manuel “Manny” Villar, saying the two “successfully use state of calamity issue for media mileage.”

Following the declaration of state of calamity in Mindanao, Aquino and Villar warned the administration about diverting funds freed calamity funds for political purposes.

Saludo, in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday, said the two presidentiables’ expression of fears was part of their campaigning.

“That is normal during elections. They will be saying all negative criticisms so that they will be put on the media. We cannot stop them from doing that as it is part of politicking,” he said in the vernacular.

Dismissing claims of the two senators, Saludo said the move of President Arroyo was not for fund release but to address the worsening power crisis in Mindanao.

“The needs of our brothers in Mindanao are clear and that’s what we are responding to,” he said. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)