Talk to President, Rio urged

MALACAÑANG on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Duterte was open to meeting former Information and Communications Technology undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr., who resigned from his post due to the alleged irregularities in the disbursement of millions of funds of his department.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles said Rio should talk to the President about the issues hounding the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

“The President is open to meeting anybody. He always said that if anybody has a complaint, Malacañang is always open to anybody who has grievances,” Nograles said in an interview.

“Since Usec. Rio was part of the executive branch before, I’m sure he knows how to reach the President. So if he needs to see the President, I’m sure he knows what to do,” he added.

Rio headed the agency before the appointment of DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan 2nd.

He filed his resignation letter on January 31, citing conflict with some of the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.

Rio said he had no rift with Honasan, but he could not work with the new officials working with the secretary.

Nograles said issues at the DICT were not discussed during the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday night in Malacañang.

But he said Honasan could hold a dialogue with the President if needed.

“I think we should give the DICT family the first chance to respond and I would imagine that it will be Secretary Honasan who will be holding a dialogue with the President himself, if need be,” Nograles said.

The Palace official said the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission could open an investigation if a formal complaint will be filed.

“Mechanisms are in place; there’s also the presidential anti-graft and corruption body. So, you can go there directly and complain and file necessary complaint or necessary allegation,” Nograles said.