Arroyo spokesman ‘casualty’ in Maguindanao massacre

MANILA – One of the five remaining spokesmen of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appears to have been sent to the freezer and also became a “casualty” because of a controversial statement she made immediately after the Maguindanao massacre three weeks ago.

That casualty is Lorelei Fajardo, the deputy presidential spokesman, who is said to be a relative of the President. Her father, reportedly a cousin of President Arroyo, used to be a member of the House of Representatives for Nueva Ecija province in Central Luzon.

Shortly after the massacre of 57 people on November 23, Fajardo created a stir when she told one of her regular weekly press briefings that the President was keeping her friendship with the powerful clan, headed by its patriarch former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan, despite the carnage.

Fajardo’s exact words as caught on tape during her briefing on November 25 ran thus: “I don’t think the President’s friendship with the Ampatuans will be severed. Just because they’re in this situation doesn’t mean we will already turn our backs on them.”

Critics and other concerned sectors immediately denounced Fajardo’s statement,.saying this confirmed President Arroyo’s close and even personal friendship with the Ampatuans who were blamed for the massacre.

The critics noted that the Ampatuans rise to power coincided with the takeover of Malacanang by then vice president Arroyo following the ouster of president Joseph Estrada by the Edsa 11 People Power Revolution in January 2001.

Because of their alliance, critics also said the Ampatuans were responsible for the lopsided victory of the President and other administration candidates in the 2004 and 2007 elections amid charges of massive cheating, terrorism and other poll irregularities.

On Thursday, Fajardo confirmed that she was leaving her post post as one of the deputy presidential spokesmen.

But apparently to hide the real reason for her departure, Fajardo said she has decided to work full time as the presidential assistant for Central Luzon. She pointed out she held such position for several years before she became one of Malacanang’s “spin doctors.”

In a text message to Malacanang reporters, Fajardo said: “I was given a choice between serving as full time undersecretary of OPS (Office of the Press Secretary).and presidential assistant for Central Luzon.. It’s my honor to serve as (Press) Secretary Cerge Remonde who has been a good mentor and a friend.”

That she was sent to the freezer, however, was also confirmed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita during the joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives which met to tackle the Arroyo imposition of martial law in Maguindanao on December 5 as a result of the massacre.

When questioned by lawmakers, Ermita defended Fajardo on her controversial statement. He said Fajardo was doing this in a personal capacity while admitting that Malacanang had already called her attention to the “gaffe.”

With her exit, there are only two deputy presidential spokesmen left, Gary Olivar and Rolly Tungpalan, to speak for her particularly on economic issues.

Before Fajardo’s “exile,”another presidential deputy spokesman, Anthony Golez, resigned to run for Congress representing Bacolod City in the Visayas in the May 2010 elections.

Today, the daily press briefings at the Palace are now presided over by Ermita, Remonde, Olivar and Tungpalan.

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