PNoy: ‘No-nonsense’ Lacson will deliver on Yolanda rehab task

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday expressed confidence that tapping former Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson to head the Yolanda rehabilitation efforts will allow the government to achieve its targets sooner.

 

During a forum at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Aquino said he chose Lacson for the post because he strikes him as a "no-nonsense person."

 

"Having Ping Lacson at the center [of rehabilitation efforts]... focused solely on Yolanda’s rehabilitation will undoubtedly achieve the targets sooner," he said.

 

"And that is, I guess, why we look at the unique capabilities of Mr. Lacson or Senator Lacson to be able to deliver," he added.

 

The President also explained that he picked the former lawmaker because there was a need to appoint someone outside of the Cabinet.

 

"'Yung the members of the Cabinet have their normal functions, then you also have the imperative to get our people back in a better condition at the soonest possible time. So there is... parang the attention is divided between the two obligations right off the bat," he said.

 

On Monday, the Palace said Aquino did not have anyone else in mind aside from Lacson for the post.

 

But it said Lacson's responsibilities will still have to be detailed in an executive order which has yet to come out.

 

Lacson said he hopes to finish the rehabilitation efforts before Aquino's term ends in 2016. —KG, GMA News