Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Defensor-Tupas talk had no clearance from Gonzalez?
By Jay Dooma Balnig
PRESIDENTIAL Chief of Staff Mike Defensor got involved in the Iloilo City political scene without clearance from administration ally Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr.
Defensor admitted that he talked with Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr. after the January 17 Provincial Capitol siege without the knowledge of Gonzalez.
But Defensor, in a radio interview, did not elaborate the details of his talk with Tupas.
Mayor Jerry Treñas, an ally of Gonzalez, condemned the Capitol siege.
The Capitol siege backfired on the Arroyo administration after Western Visayas leaders condemned it.
Defensor did not categorically state if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had a hand in his talk with Tupas.
According to reports, Gonzalez got irked with Defensor for getting involved in the Iloilo affair, considering that the former is trusted by Arroyo.
While Tupas believes that Gonzalez is behind his ouster, Defensor continues to negotiate and forge a deal with the governor, an opposition under the Liberal Party-Drilon wing.
Many Ilonggos believe that Defensor did not act on his own in talking to Tupas.
Meanwhile, Tupas did not join the other Western Visayas governors when they visited Malacañang last Friday.
The meet was in relation to the siege.
Antique Governor Salvacion Zaldevar-Perez said they were able to meet with Arroyo and Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno during the dinner meeting.
Perez added that the Western Visayas governors submitted a resolution condemning the siege. They also asked Arroyo to relieve Philippine National Police officials who were involved.
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (February 6, 2007 issue)
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