Palace shrugs off advice from Enriquez

Thanks, but no thanks.

Malacañang shrugged off yesterday unsolicited advice from former Budget Secretary Salvador Enriquez Jr. for President Arroyo to mend her ways of governance or face ouster like her predecessor.

Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao instead hit back at Enriquez for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a leader of the so-called People’s Consultative Assembly (PCA).

At the same time, Tiglao belied claims by Enriquez and PCA secretary general Linda Montayre that they were invited to a meeting with the President at Malacañang.

The invitation was reportedly coursed through former Speaker now Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr.

"We don’t mind criticisms coming from Jun Enriquez and Montayre. What we do mind is that they misrepresent themselves as NGOs (non-government organizations)," Tiglao stressed.

In an interview with The STAR, Enriquez, now a technical consultant of the Quezon City government, said he cared for Mrs. Arroyo, but could not help it if the people choose to turn against her administration and kick her out.

Tiglao argued that the President kept her focus on her priority programs, notably the anti-poverty measures.

Enriquez said there was a growing clamor from many sectors for the implementation of major reforms in the government through a civilian-military junta.

He warned that a takeover of the government by a junta would lead to bloodshed.

Enriquez said if Mrs. Arroyo refused to change her management style, she would run the risk of courting the people’s wrath.

In his strongest criticism ever of the Arroyo administration, Enriquez said the government’s economic policies merely led to more unemployment and public discontent.

He also pointed out that the problems confronting the country were deep-rooted and required "systemic solutions."

He added that reforming the government was not a simple matter of replacing its leaders.

Enriquez also alleged that Mrs. Arroyo’s promises when she took over from ousted President Joseph Estrada have remained unfulfilled, adding that she dismisses criticisms as "mere perceptions." – Marichu Villanueva