Lacierda to Escudero: I'm doing my job; don't shoot the messenger

MANILA, Philippines - Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Monday rejected Sen. Francis Escudero's calls for his resignation.

In a press briefing, Lacierda shot back at Escudero, who said that the Palace official should quit his post if he will continue engaging in politicking.

Escudero earlier criticized Lacierda for saying that Sen. Grace Poe's platform does not espouse continuity of "Daang Matuwid" based on her political advertisement.

Escudero asked Lacierda if he is the spokesperson of Roxas and the Liberal Party. The senator said Lacierda is being paid by taxpayers' money to be the spokesman of President Aquino.

In response, Lacierda said Aquino anointed Roxas as his preferred successor and "it is not remote for me to also voice out the same attention" to the presidential aspirant.

"I remember that Senator Escudero used to be a spokesperson for the late Fernando Poe Jr. and my request is, I am just doing my job and do not shoot the messenger," Lacierda said.

"I am being paid by taxpayers to speak for the president. The president has spoken of his endorsement of Mar Roxas. Like Sen. Escudero, I am also a taxpayer but unlike Sen. Escudero, I do not use taxpayer's money and time to promote myself and run for higher office," he also said in a text message.

As to claims that he is engaging in politicking, Lacierda said that the Supreme Court rendered a decision in the past that the office of a Cabinet secretary like him is political in nature.

"As early as 1959, in the case of Santos versus Yatco, the nature of Cabinet positions are political offices and that has been resolved even then," Lacierda said.

"And in my view as a law student and it is elementary in basic constitutional law. And that is something, I believe, that Senator Escudero is very well aware of," he added.

Lacierda said as a spokesperson, he will speak on all issues and answer questions posed to him.