After Romualdez complaint, PNoy snaps back at govt critics

After a tearful statement from Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, President Benigno Aquino III snapped back at critics who are "putting the blame on the national government" for what happened during Typhoon Yolanda.

 

"In view of... empirical facts, the President believes that those engaging in a media campaign and putting the blame on the national government are performing a disservice to the people," Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) head Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a press conference Tuesday.

 

Asked if the President was referring to Romualdez, Coloma just said: "The statement speaks for itself."

 

During a congressional oversight hearing on Monday, Romualdez decried how Interior Secretary Mar Roxas supposedly asked him to cede control of the city and brought up clan politics instead of immediately sending help in the aftermath of Yolanda. 

 

“Secretary Roxas said we should legalize everything ... You have to remember: we have to be very careful because you are a Romualdez and the president is an Aquino,” he said during a post-disaster assessment hearing.

 

“I could not understand why I could not get help from national government ... Kung kaya ng police at military na ma-secure ang President, bakit 'di kami nabigyan ng security para ma-secure ang siyudad?” he added.

 

Romualdez is the nephew of Imelda Marcos, widow of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. President Benigno Aquino III's father, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., was assassinated on his return from exile in 1983 under the Marcos presidency.

Government's side

Earlier in the day, Roxas denied bringing up politics with Romualdez, insisting that the national government promptly provided assistance to the typhoon-hit Tacloban. 

Roxas had earlier denied asking Romualdez to let the national government take over the city. 

In further defending the government's response to typhoon-affected areas, Coloma said the national government took "all necessary steps" to prepare the people against Yolanda and did not "spare any efforts" in addressing the needs of people in calamity areas. 

 

"All of the concerned frontline government departments and agencies, particularly the DND, DILG, DPWH, DSWD, DoH and even the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) were deployed in full force to ensure maximum delivery of essential services and assistance in the affected communities," he said.

 

The Palace official said the President even warned citizens about Yolanda before it hit the Philippines.

 

"He specifically warned about the possibility of storm surge in over 100 areas and urged the local authorities and the citizens to take precautionary measures," he said. 

 

Coloma likewise said the President ordered Roxas and Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin to immediately proceed to Tacloban after the storm made landfall.

 

He added that within 24 hours after Yolanda's landfall, the Tacloban airport had been cleared by the Armed Forces and Public Works engineers. 

 

He also said military helicopters brought in troops and soldiers to replace the first responders who had been disabled. 

 

Further, Coloma said Aquino even visited Tacloban twice to personally oversee the relief efforts.

 

During his last visit there, the President said the local government units' handling of the Yolanda preparations and response was under investigation. Later on, however, he said the probe was not a priority.

 

But the Palace had also earlier admitted that it may have had some shortcomings in preparing and responding to Yolanda. — RSJ, GMA News