Solon: PNoy should fire Abad

(Malacanang stock photo)

MANILA – Akbayan Representative Walden Bello said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes should be fired for damaging President Aquino’s reputation.

Bello personally made the appeal to the President asking him to remove Abad from office as he has deviated from the administration’s straight path (“matuwid na daan“). Bello added that Abad created a negative impact on the President’s image because of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

The Supreme Court has earlier declared certain parts of the DAP to be unconstitutional.

“Owing to Mr. Abad’s bad judgment, your administration has been severely wounded by the DAP issue. Your popularity may not suffer but the credibility of the reform program with the citizenry will be thoroughly eroded with the continued presence of Mr. Abad.

“I think he has become a hindrance to the fulfillment of the program and I feel strongly that he must go for the matuwidnadaan to regain its credibility,” Bello said in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.

Meanwhile, Bello said the Agriculture Secretary should also be fired for being “weak and indecisive” in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Carper Reforms Law.

De los Reyes, however, refused to comment on the issue.

“I have not seen his note. I am on the road now. Sorry. I have no comment at this point,” the agrarian reform secretary said in a text message for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.