Malacanang says President Aquino taking
medicines for his cough and colds
President Benigno S. Aquino III will have an
opportunity to take a rest today (Wednesday) after having cough and colds
following a hectic schedule last week, a Palace official said.
“He has colds and cough lang, but nakausap niya
ang doktor, he was prescribed some medicines,” Presidential spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said in a phone interview with Palace reporters Wednesday.
“Kahapon pagkatapos ng event, tapos mamaya may
event siya, nagkaroon ng pagkakataon para siya makapagpahinga. So today is a
good day for him to rest lang before his event at 4 o’clock,” he said.
The President will have an event with the local
community in Victoria, Tarlac this (Wednesday) afternoon.
Lacierda also said the President spearheaded the
Labor Day activities on Tuesday based on the advice by the Department of Labor
and Employment (DOLE) and it was not the President’s decision for him to take a
rest today.
The labor department wanted the Labor Day
activities on April 30 so as not to crowd the labor groups’ activities for May
1, Lacierda said.
“But this was suggested, I think if I’m not
mistaken, weeks ago or a month ago, kasi alam n’yo naman ang schedule ni
Presidente, that’s planned in advance,” he said.
The Palace official said the President wasn’t
avoiding the rallies organized by the labor groups when he led the early
observance of Labor Day on Tuesday. PND (as)
Military, police operations against New People's
Army to intensify, Palace says
Police and military operations against the
communist rebels will heighten in a few weeks prior to May 13 elections
following the latest attack in Compostela Valley where a policeman was abducted
by the insurgents, Malacanang said.
“Tuluy-tuloy ang operation natin sa mga ganyang
mga element, we will not cease our efforts to curb these activities,”
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a telephone interview with
Malacanang reporters on Wednesday.
“Nangyari ‘yan but we will continue. Nangyari na
sa Bulacan meron tayong na-apprehend. Talagang pagtitibayin pa natin lalo itong
last two weeks,” he said.
Lacierda said the Armed Forces of the
Philippines’ leadership has ordered its units to intensify their operations
following the Mindanao attacks.
Despite the current developments, Lacierda said
the Aquino administration remains committed on achieving a peace deal with the
rebels.
However, he said talks won’t materialize under
the normal track of the discussions because of the rebels’ insistence for the release
of their consultants before formal discussions begin.
“Walang nangyayari sa regular track dahil ang
dami nilang preconditions. Ang dami nilang hinihingi, ang JASIG [Joint
Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees] list, ini-insist nila ilabas lahat,
pakawalan ang mga under custody,” he stressed.
Although the regular and special tracks in the
discussions aren’t moving, the government doesn’t close the door for the
negotiations, Lacierda said.
He said the Aquino government is awaiting the
statement from Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles for the “new approach”
that they are crafting for the peace negotiations.
“Kung ano ‘yung new approach na ‘yan, hintayin
na lang natin. Again, we are committed to resolving all internal conflicts,
armed conflicts, peacefully. ‘Yan naman talaga ang layunin natin,” Lacierda
said. PND (as)
