By Janice Cave
MANILA, (PNA) — A Palace official denied on Friday allegations that Pres. Benigno Aquino III skipped a visit to Maribojoc town in Bohol due to politics.
At a media briefing, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said Aquino visited Tubigon town even if the mayor there is not a Liberal Party member.
“Can I also just point out that the other town visited by the president, the mayor of that is also not a member of the Liberal Party pero pumunta po ang Pangulo,” Valte said.
Maribojoc Mayor Leoncio Evasco Jr. is a member of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Even if Aquino skipped Maribojoc in return to Bohol this week, Valte assured the residents there of continued assistance from the government.
“Hindi naman po porke hindi nadaanan ng Pangulo ay hindi natin papansin,” she said.
Evasco figured in a spat with the Philippine National Red Cross over the distribution of relief goods to victims of the 7.2 magnitude temblor that hit Central Visayas last week.
Aquino earlier called on local government units and relief organizations to coordinate their efforts to address the needs of the victims.