By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares’ claim that the Bagong Pilipinas campaign kick-off rally at the Luneta on Sunday (January 28) is just a guise to push for Charter change (Cha-Cha), Presidential Communications Office (PCO) officials on Saturday strongly denied the allegation.
Colmenares has lambasted the event, saying it’s “a waste of public funds.”
“Definitely not. This is an activity by the Executive Department for the covenant of Bagong Pilipinas. This is the Executive Department’s way of showing its commitment that it will do its job… There are no other reasons,” PCO Undersecretary Gerard Baria maintained at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
He pointed out that the Bagong Pilipinas rally will tackle the PBBM administration’s commitment to improve government services.
“[Charter change] is within the territory of Congress; it is not part of the responsibilities of the Executive. The focus tomorrow will be specifically for Bagong Pilipinas… to communicate the government’s commitments to level up services,” Baria added.
He said Colmenares’ claims are only aimed to “muddle ideas.”
For her part, PCO Director Cris Villonco said that “as part of the event and the one overseeing the event, I can assure that is not the case.“
“We are talking about empowering the Filipino at its very core,” Villonco stressed.
(el Amigo/MNM)
