Palace: Tugade still enjoys Duterte’s trust amid quit calls
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2019 11:22:14 +0000
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Arthur Tugade still enjoys the trust and confidence of President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said on Thursday, amid calls for him to resign over the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila.
In a press conference, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo defended Tugade after Sen. Grace Poe said the Cabinet official “did not perform” his duties.
“Of course. Mr. Tugade has already laid out the table in the Senate. He is suggesting that emergency powers be granted to the President, as he previously did,” Panelo told reporters when asked if Duterte still trusted Tugade.
“But the problem is he was unable to get it, that’s why the President is no longer interested,” he said.
Poe, chairman of the Senate public services committee, had said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel that Tugade “did not perform and I’m sorry to say.”
“I am not here to make people look bad, I am here to present the truth and find the solution,” she also said.
Poe has been taking Tugade to task for the worsening traffic problems in Metro Manila. For her, “At least when it comes to traffic and when it comes to dealing with the solutions for the traffic mess, I think somebody else should take his place.”
In response, Panelo said, “Maybe Senator Grace has a person in mind, why [doesn’t] she come out with it?”
“Everything will be considered to solve traffic problem in EDSA,” he added, when asked about Poe’s suggestion to tap a traffic expert.
Duterte had said he needed emergency powers to have funds for projects that would solve traffic in Metro Manila, particularly on EDSA.
But the President seemed to be fed up with trying to solve the traffic congestion, saying that without emergency powers, “let EDSA rot there.”
Poe has repeatedly said there was no need for emergency powers as Duterte could address traffic congestion without it.
In his speech on Tuesday, Duterte took a swipe at Poe, saying EDSA traffic will be the senator’s legacy.
He also insisted that he would not beg for emergency powers, citing Poe’s claim that special powers could be abused.
“Why would I ask for emergency powers? I did not ask for it… When it was discussed in Congress, a lady senator said, I heard her, ‘Ah, this is difficult. You cannot trust these guys with corruption. This involves a lot of money.’ I was listening so I said, ‘tell her, drop it,’” he said.
“I will tell Grace, Grace, not all people in this world are thieves,” the President said. CATHERINE S. VALENTE