BY SAMMY JULIAN
HE has been there right from the start. So it would be right to say that he will be there until the very end.
Of course, what else can Malacañang do when Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, one of the architects of Benigno Aquino III’s successful run for the presidency in 2010, becomes the subject of severe criticisms?
Well, as expected, the Palace will stand firmly behind Abad. Its support will be backed-up by the administration’s insistence that there is no concrete evidence linking Abad to the alleged misuse of government funds.
Abad has already refuted Napoles’ allegation that he downloaded P10 million of his Priority Development Assistance (PDAF) to Batanes Electric Cooperative (Batanelco) back when he was the representative of Batanes.
The question is, according to Malacañang, where’s the evidence?
None.
In Abad’s case, as the Palace joyfully pointed out, there was no SARO.
Still, the Aquino administration said Abad is ready to face any inquiry to present his side or even a face-off with his accuser, detained businesswoman Janet Napoles.
The Palace is completely confident of Abad, the Liberal Party’s campaign manager in the 2010 presidential elections where Aquino, then a senator, won the race.
Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani earlier called on Abad, one of the President’s most trusted lieutenants, to step down out of delicadeza after Napoles tagged him as one of the politicians who benefited from the alleged misuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Abad also allegedly taught Napoles on how to divert the profit from the alleged diversion of PDAF to bogus non-government organizations.
Apparently, the evidence, or the lack thereof, also plays a substantial role in the issue of nepotism hurled against Abad, who is one of the members of President Aquino’s official family with the most relatives in government.
Abad, who has two first cousins and a niece all working in the government as of last year, claimed that except for one, all his relatives have been in government have been in government even before he entered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
He also defended his daughter Julia who currently serves as chief of the Presidential Management Staff, saying she worked as chief of staff of then Sen. Aquino since 2007.
So where is the strong evidence, Abad asked.
Again, Malacañang was quick to come to the defense of the Budget chief. It said it was “unfair” to single out Abad for having many relatives in government.
Besides, it was due to Abad’s competence as well as the President’s confidence in him that landed him in the government.
What about claims that the President is beholden to Abad?
We wait for an answer./PN
