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Usec Puno says he can work closely with Roxas in DILG


Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno on Tuesday said he is willing to work closely with incoming Interior chief Manuel “Mar” Roxas II once the Cabinet official takes over the post left vacant due to the death of Jesse Robredo. “Yes, of course. Kung saan naman tayo dadalhin… Hihintayin ko ang orders,” Puno told reporters when asked if he can still function as undersecretary in a Roxas-led DILG. Puno was at the House of Representatives for the DILG budget briefing. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., acting DILG chief, was also present during the hearing. But Puno admitted he remains uncertain of his fate once Roxas becomes the DILG chief. He likewise said that he is not aware of any plans to move him to other government agencies, particularly the Department of Agriculture and the Clark Development Authority. Last week, President Benigno Aquino III appointed Roxas as the new DILG chief following Robredo's death from a plane crash in Masbate on August 18.  Roxas’ current position as Transportation and Communications chief will be taken over by another Liberal Party executive, Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya. Roxas is president of the ruling party, Abaya its secretary-general while Aquino, the party chairman. 'Free hand' At a press briefing after his appointment, Roxas said the President gave him a “free hand” in reorganizing the department. He also said that Aquino already has “another assignment” for Puno. Puno, the President’s shooting buddy, is identified with the “Samar” faction in the Aquino administration, which supported Vice President Jejomar Binay during the 2010 elections. Binay defeated Roxas in the vice presidential race. Roxas has since filed an electoral protest before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

As a DILG undersecretary for peace and order, Puno was put in charge of police matters, an unusual arrangement in which Robredo's authority over his department was diluted. 
 
This division might have had fatal consequences when Robredo said he was left out of the loop during the bungled police action at the Luneta in August 2010 that left eight Hong Kong hostages dead. — RSJ, GMA News
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