MALACAÑANG said Tuesday that it holds no ill feelings toward Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol even after the latter aired his sentiments over "weak operations" of the communications team of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella respects Piñol's remark and believes that there was “nothing personal about it.”
"From his point of view, this is a question of work and there is nothing personal about the whole thing," Abella said in an interview after the unveiling of Duterte's economic and development plan in Pasay City.
Piñol, a former newsman, said Monday that Palace did not contribute to the President's lead in Time magazine's poll for 100 most influential people in the world, because of its communications group seems unorganized.
"Personally, as a former newsman myself, I think the handling of media operations of Malacañang is weak. I am frank. Their operations are weak. They release their stories late, independent media entities make it public first," Piñol said.
Abella shrugged off Piñol's comment and said that the latter was merely giving his "own opinion and concerns."
He also said that the issue "should be settled behind the scenes."
"It's not a question of meddling. He's just voicing his own opinion. He is voicing his own concerns. These things actually should be settled behind the scenes," the presidential spokesperson said.
Amid Piñol's remark, Abella said Palace remains "focused" on improving its performance.
"This is work. Everything is work in progress and so we ought to continue what we can do best," he said. (VoxPop Philippines)
