MikeLigalig.com

The Palace, as well as the weather bureau was unprepared for the disaster, and Aquino showed up only three days after northern Mindanao was ravaged by Sendong.

Aquino has been getting a lot of flack for his partying in the face of death and disaster from the social media, as well as other groups.

National youth group Anakbayan on Monday expressed its “utter disgust” at what it called “insensitivity” by the president toward the victims of the Northern Mindanao floods, as well as the administration’s “direct hand” in the lethal deluge.

In several posts by actress Valerie Concepcion in the mini-blogging site Twitter, she accidentally revealed that Aquino was partying with members of his Presidential Security Group (PSG) on the same day the flood death toll hit 652.

“At first, we were puzzled why Aquino will only visit the flood-affected areas post-Christmas. But with Concepcion’s revelation, we can guess that Noynoy’s calendar is jampacked with Christmas parties and he does not want to miss a single one” said Vencer Crisostomo, national chairman of Anakbayan.



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At the same time, Lacierda said the Palace will be addressing reports that illegal logging caused the massive flash flood that devastated Northern Mindanao and has instructed Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officer-in-charge Mujiv Hataman to immediately investigate the matter.

“These concerns on illegal logging will be addressed by the OIC of the ARMM,” said Lacierda said at a press briefing.

Justifying Aquino’s presence during the PSG Christmas Party, Lacierda said the president did not want to deprive the PSG “this singular family activity.”

“The PSG by nature of its 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,” Lacierda said.

“Just to let you know, the President stayed only for a few minutes and, according to Col. Chito Dizon whom I spoke (with) this morning, it has already been paid for so… And the President also mentioned to Colonel Dizon that he wouldn’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,” he added.

According to Lacierda, Aquino just dropped by the PSG Christmas Party and immediately informed Dizon “that he was just dropping by to say hello to the family members.”

“This is one opportunity where the members of the troops of the PSG, the family members could get to see the President and this is in appreciation of the service that the PSG is providing the President on a daily basis, “ said Lacierda.

More at: http://www.newsflash.org/2004/02/hl/hl111329.htm



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