Philippine president 'out of the loop' in conflict-hit southern city
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III is paying the price for choosing to live in a war zone, away from the seat of power: he has no Manila newspapers to read and hence, cannot take a stand on key issues.
With the airport and shops shut for the past 10 days due to fighting between government forces and Moro rebels in Zamboanga City, the president has not been getting any newspapers, the Palace said on Wednesday.
With this lack of information, the Palace said it was difficult to get his stand on key issues like the filing of plunder charges against 38 individuals including three senators and the postponement of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or youth council elections.
“You know, the problem in Zamboanga is that no planes are flying there. They’re not getting news there. No newspapers are being flown there,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters.
What about news on television or the Internet? The Palace did not elaborate.
Aquino flew to Zamboanga City on Friday to oversee military operation against rebels from Nur Misuari’s faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who barged into the city on September 9 to stage an “independence” march and rally.
He remains in Zamboanga as military troops and policemen battle Misuari’s followers.
Lacierda said he would speak to Aquino about issues when the president returns to the Palace.
“We will know. We will know when he comes back,” he said when asked if Aquino would certify as urgent the measure postponing the SK elections that were originally scheduled to coincide with the barangay or village elections on October 28.
Aquino has rarely been seen in public since he took over command of the military operation on Friday. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has been presiding over press briefings on the crisis.
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