Pangilinan lauds PNoy’s swift action on Puno-Robredo row, hopes this is last time for President to play mediator

October 11, 2010

Press Release
October 11, 2010

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan lauded President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s swift action in mediating between DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno amid reports of growing tension between the two officials.

“We welcome the swift action taken by the President to address the rift between Puno and Robredo. We hope this will be the last time the President will have to step in to mediate between warring personalities in the official family,” Pangilinan expressed.

According to news reports and an interview with Secretary Robredo, the three met on Sunday night for a “very cordial and a very polite meeting” and discussed how they could better work together.

“This should serve as a signal to all in the President’s team to focus on doing our work, setting aside our differences and uniting behind the President.”

Reiterating an earlier statement, Pangilinan said: “We cannot hope to solve the serious problems of our country if we are unable to manage our differences by allowing it to get in the way of the work at hand.”