President Benigno Aquino III should allow Undersecretary Rico Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG) to go on leave, a senator said Sunday. Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri gave Aquino his “unsolicited advice” after the president said he could not accept Puno's resignation following accusations that the official get payoffs from operators of the illegal numbers game jueteng. Puno said he would tender his resignation when Aquino arrives from the United States Tuesday. But the president said Puno is entitled to due process. Puno and the president are longtime friends and fellow gun enthusiasts. “I would suggest to Usec Puno to take a leave of absence ... if the president will not accept his resignation,” Zubiri said in an interview on dzBB radio. “My unsolicited advice to the president is ... accept the leave of absence of Usec Puno.” The president could also transfer Puno to other offices if his stay at the DILF continuous to get criticism. Zubiri said Aquino must show that his government is different from the previous administration where close friends were supposedly shielded from prosecution. “I have spoken with other people who are very frustrated,” Zubiri said. – GMANews TV adding that many feel “it's business as usual,” that there has been no change. “Let's show the people that this government is different. If there is an accusation, then maybe the president should ask (an accused official) to take a leave of absence pending investigation,” he said. Puno and retired National Police chief Director General Jesus Versos were among those linked by former Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz at a Senate inquiry Tuesday as recipients of money from jueteng. Both have denied the allegations. Last week, Puno said he would resign when Aquino returns from the US to give him a “free hand” to fire or keep him.
