PNS — MALACAÑANG defended the appointment of former Arroyo officials saying their credentials speak for themselves.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said the political affiliation of people is not an issue with the Aquino administration for as long as they are competent.
“Wala naman silang ginagawa…Hindi naman lahat, komo Arroyo, Estrada, o si Marcos. di naman kami ganun,” he said.
President Benigno Aquino III has appointed retired Brig. Gen. Cesar Garcia as National Security Adviser. Garcia was former National Intelligence Coordinating Agency chief under the Arroyo administration.
Aquino also appointed retired Army Maj. Gen Trifonio Salazar as general of NICA. Salazar was former program manager of support services and environmental management at the Subic-Clark- Tarlac Expressway-Project Management Office.
Some of Aquino’s Cabinet members also served under the Arroyo and Ramos administrations.
Ochoa said the President has the “luxury of appointment” in the same way that he has the same “luxury of disappointing them by firing them.”