MANILA, Philippines — Dinipensahan ng Malacañan ang ginawang pagdalo ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III ng isang pagdiriwang o party sa kalagitnaan ng pananalasa ng Bagyong Sendong sa ilang lalawigan sa Visayas at Mindanao.
Ayon kay Presidential Spokesman Sec. Edwin Lacierda, hindi nagtagal ang Pangulo sa naturang okasyon na nakalaan para sa mga miyembro ng PSG o Presidential Security Group.
“Just to let you know, the President stayed only for a few minutes and, according to Colonel Chito Dizon who I spoke this morning, it has already been paid for so… and the President also mentioned to Colonel Dizon na he won’t be staying long in deference to the Mindanao flood, and he did not sing. He just sat and watched for a few minutes the party, and then he left immediately,” anang tagapagsalita ng Pangulo.
Dagdag pa ng kalihim, lumuwas pa mula sa kani-kanilang mga probinsya ang mga kamag-anak ng presidential guards kaya hindi naman basta na lamang maikakansela ng Pangulo ang naturang pagtitipon.
Ayon sa pahayag ng Pangulo na binasa ni Lacierda, unfair rin na ipagkait ang panahong makasama ng mga ito ang kanilang mga kaanak.
“The PSG, by nature of their job, is on alert 365 days of the year. Christmas day is not an exception. Separation from their loved ones is part and parcel of the job and holidays are not exceptions. The Christmas celebration is meant most especially for the younger members of their families who refer to this one day where the importance of the family is emphasized. It would be most unfair to deprive them of this singular familial activity.
Kaugnay nito, binanggit din ng Palasyo na hindi lamang ang PSG ang dapat na may pagdiriwang ng araw na iyon.
Nauna nang kinansela ang holiday gathering ng mga kalihim dahil sa insidente ng pananalasa ni Sendong sa Minadanao nguni’t dahil sa matagal nang naiplano ang PSG event, mas pinili na lamang ituloy ito ayon sa naitakdang petsa.
“We are also informing you that there was also a scheduled Christmas party today for the cabinet secretaries and in deference to the Mindanao flooding po and Mindanao casualties, we have decided, the President has decided to cancel the Christmas party today for the cabinet secretaries. His decision was made yesterday also,” anang tagapagsalita ng Pangulo.
Samantala, sa Miyerkules naman nakatakdang maglibot ang Pangulo sa Cagayan De Oro City, Iligan, at Dumagete City upang personal na pangasiwaan ang relief operations sa lugar. (Ito Ang Balita ni Francis Rivera, UNTV News)
