There will be no new post for resigned Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno, at least for now.

On Monday, President Benigno Aquino III said he wanted closure first on the alleged overpriced firearms deal before giving Puno another government post.

“At this point, everything is under consideration. We will finish first the things that we have been checking on like ‘yung rifles, firearms, for instance,” Aquino told reporters in Quezon province when asked about reports that Puno will be appointed to the Department of Agriculture.

Aquino led the awarding of the Seal of Good Housekeeping for Barangay Governance and oath-taking of new members of the Liberal Party in Quezon province.

'Eyes and ears'

 

The President said Puno was his “eyes and ears” on the arms deal and because of the supposed overpricing, he wanted to evaluate if Puno diligently did his job.

 

Known as the President's shooting buddy, Puno resigned from his post early this month to give newly appointed Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II a free rein in the department.

 

The resignation came after Puno was linked to a controversial weapons deal entered into by the Philippine National Police. Puno has since denied any irregularity in the deal involving assault rifles. 

Aquino had earlier asserted that, after researching on the Internet, he suspected that the guns the government wanted to purchase were overpriced, a deal which Puno was supposedly “knowledgeable” about.

The late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo was investigating the matter, among other anomalous transactions, before his death in a plane crash in Masbate in August.

 

Asked if he had already picked someone to replace Puno, Aquino said he had talked with someone but the latter was still thinking about accepting the post.

 

“Kailangang makausap ulit at baka mukhang nagda-dalawang isip e. Baka hindi siya ready from the time na kailangan siya,” he said, but did not name whom he was referring to. 

 

The President noted that there was no plan to replace Robredo prior to his death so finding a replacement was difficult.

 

“Nakalimutan ko na walang planong palitan si Secretary Robredo e kaya paspasan lahat ito,” he said.

 

He also reiterated that his preference for PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome to retire earlier than March 2013 was connected with security preparations for the May 2013 elections.

 

“So March magre-retire, April binubuno ng bago(ng appointee) ‘yung kanyang bagong assignment, May—first week ng May more or less—eleksyon, ano. Mukhang ginagarantiya natin na magkakagulo-gulo ‘yung conduct ng peaceful elections kung hindi bibigyan ng supisyenteng panahon na talagang gumawa ng plano, maikasa ‘yung plano ‘nung susunod na papalit,” said Aquino. — RSJ/KBK/HS, GMA News