DDB chief misinformed - Lacierda

MANILA, Philippines –  Read the transcript first.

This was the advice presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda gave to Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Antonio Villar Jr., who defended his brother Reynaldo over opinions that he should have relinquished his post as Commission on Audit (COA) chairman last Feb. 2.

“We have never alluded to COA chairman Villar. I understood his (Antonio’s) outburst, but he’s grossly misinformed. The search for a man of integrity was meant for the entire bureaucracy. As far as his (Reynaldo’s) appointment is concerned, it’s over,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda explained the appointment of Villar as COA chairman was expressly stated that it will expire on Feb. 2.

“So, as far as we know, as far as the appointment papers that we hold, his position expired last Feb. 2. The appointment papers are very clear, it expires on Feb. 2, 2011,” Lacierda said.

According to Lacierda, several candidates have been screened by Malacañang and interviewed by President Aquino for appointment as replacement of Villar.

The absence of an appointment of a replacement at this stage, according to Lacierda, does not mean Aquino wanted Villar to stay.

He cited the vacancy in the Commission on Elections following the retirement of commissioner Gregorio Larazzabal.

“The fact that we have not yet appointed a replacement for commissioner Larazzabal does not mean that Larazzabal is entitled to stay on,” Lacierda said.

The DDB chief advised his elder brother to step down the soonest, even if the COA chief believes that his seven-year term will end on 2015, mainly because he was appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2008.

Antonio lamented his brother had been unfairly treated by Lacierda.

Lacierda was reported to have claimed that Malacañang is now looking for “a man with integrity” to become the new COA chairman.

“You mean my brother is not a man of integrity? Stop talking too much. You don’t know my brother that well,” an irate Antonio said.

“If you think he is not a man of integrity, or if he has been involved in anomalies, then expose them and sue my brother,” he challenged Lacierda. “You better choose your words carefully.”

The younger Villar said he doesn’t believe Lacierda is doing the President any favors with the kind of statements he is issuing, especially on his brother’s status as COA chief.

He said Aquino is a decent man and would not speak unkind words towards anyone but “this Lacierda, he thinks he is too mighty with the kind of words he uses.”

Villar said his brother rose from the ranks, having served for 20 years at the COA.

He also said his brother has held vital positions in government, having been elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention that amended the Philippine Constitution and became floor leader of the convention.

“He lives a very decent life,” Villar said of his brother.

“In fact, his house is still small up to now, (even if it is) already 30 years old and he uses a COA issued vehicle although he has an old, personal car,” he said.