Pinoy VOTE

MANILA, Philippines -- Yes, Medy Works At Malacañang, is a relative of one of the country's most respected bishops, and she is coming out to face the public soon.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno confirmed late Friday that Remedios "Medy" L. Poblador is an undersecretary detailed with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office in the House of Representatives.

Her biggest and most crucial role came in the last senatorial elections, said one Palace source who was not authorized to speak on the matter.

It was through her that requests for funding for the campaign of members of Team Unity were made, especially those of defeated candidates Cesar Montano and Sultan Kiram, the source added.

"She held the combination of the vault," said the source.

The official directory of Malacañang listed "Remedios L. Poblador" as assistant secretary in the Palace's "Private Offices," with landline number 552-6785 and 551-1356 for fax.

During the Senate hearing on the "Hello, Garci" case Friday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he had asked Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who was a three-term congressman, if he had ever seen Poblador in the House. Cayetano replied in the negative, Lacson said.

Puno, who said he talked with her over the phone, denied Sen. Panfilo Lacson's claim that Poblador was a personal confidante of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself.

"I don't think that qualifies her to be a confidante of the President," said Puno.

He said she would face the public soon.

"In due time, she's going to be making statements on this matter," said Puno, who could not reveal Poblador's whereabouts.

"She's a relative of Archbishop (Gaudencio Cardinal) Rosales," Puno said, explaining why Poblador was in Camp Aguinaldo, where he met Bishop Socrates Villegas and former T/Sgt. Vidal Doble. That occurred two years ago after Doble left his hiding place at the San Carlos Seminary in Makati and went with the bishop to the military headquarters.

"I hope we put things in the proper context," Puno said, adding in Filipino: "It cannot be denied that she helped the family."

He said Poblador helped the Doble family as an "act of charity."

Puno said that when the military was about to attack the Makati seminary, where Doble and Samuel Ong had taken refuge, "they asked the help of someone who can talk to the bishop, so that violence would be avoided that day."

"She was asked to talk to Cardinal Rosales because she's a relative of Cardinal Rosales," not because "she's a Palace official," Puno said.

"I think we should credit her for that, not misinterpret her participation and put all kinds of motivation."

After that, Poblador had been regularly helping Doble's family upon the latter's request.

Told about Lacson's claim that Poblador's intervention brought the "Hello Garci" issue to Malacañang's doorsteps, Puno said:

"Insinuation means it has no proof. And that is exactly what it is. It is an insinuation which is unfounded," Puno said. "Why, the help they (the Lacson camp is) giving to Sgt. Doble, isn't that (proof) that they are also involved, whatever it is?"

He said what Poblador did was a "personal" act.

"Public officials have a duty to help people who come for them for assistance in good faith. Is it wrong?"

Puno challenged Lacson's camp to show proof that Poblador's help had strings attached.

"Anybody can accuse anybody of anything, but for Undersecretary Poblador to be able to stop anybody from testifying (is unthinkable)," he said.

She's a "low key" official, he said, describing her as "very hardworking, very intelligent ... very serious" and "professional."

He appealed to people not to "smear the reputation of people that are constructive and positive people."

Malacañang sources said she kept a low profile in the early days of her work at the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) under then political adviser Gabriel Claudio.

Despite being low key, her role became crucial for Ms Arroyo--she kept senators who needed favors from Malacañang connected to the right people, the sources said.

Poblador was no stranger to Malacañang. While working in the protocol office during the term of President Corazon Aquino, she eloped with her boss, Ambassador Miguel Perez Rubio.

But after a few years, the relationship fell apart.

Under the Arroyo administration, she became a problem solver, especially if it involved problems of legislators whose support the administration sought.

Malacañang officials who had witnessed how she dealt with other officials in the Palace said she had won the deep trust of Ms Arroyo and claimed that she sometimes felt she was in the same level as members of the Cabinet.

At one point, said an official who witnessed one incident, she had shouted at a Cabinet secretary in the Guest House.

"Ganun siya kabigat (She's that powerful)," said the source, a middle-level official of Malacañang, who refused to be identified.

One of the things that made her famous in the Guest House, according to other sources who had worked there, was her good cooking.

Every Monday, she would bring food to Claudio's office and, soon, word about her good cooking spread and brought other Cabinet officials over to Claudio's office for impromptu picnics.

Ms Arroyo herself had tasted her cooking, the sources said.

Aside from her food, however, Palace officials who knew her work said she had become skilled at finding solutions to problems brought to the PLLO by congressmen and senators.

Some of the problems were where to find money for projects, or "special requests that don't go through the regular channels."

"She's the one to go to if you're a congressman or senator and you have a special request," said the source.

This role emanates from her official title as head of the PLLO, an office that makes sure the lines of communications are kept open between Congress and Malacañang.

Inquirer.net

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