Abads maintain tight grip on Noy gov’t financial affairs 08/20/2010

Abads maintain tight grip on Noy gov’t financial affairs

08/20/2010 From the looks of it, the family of Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad is ready to have a powerful grip on the financial affairs of the Aquino administration even as the secretary’s wife, Batanes Rep. Henedina Abad, the chairman of the House committee on energy, has been found to be holding another powerful post in the House, that of the vice chairmanship of the committee on appropriations. While Representative Abad holds the post of energy panel chairman, Secretary Abad, as Budget chief, is also involved in the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (Psalm) as a member of the board.  Their son, Luis Abad, is the chief of staff of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima while their daughter Julia heads the Presidential Management Staff which is in charge of the President’s social fund, otherwise known as the presidential pork barrel. Representative Abad, in an earlier interview, said their presence in the Aquino government is purely coincidental and that the four of them are qualified to hold these government posts.  She added the issue is being blown out of proportion. The elder Abad also defended their postings in the Aquino administration, claiming that they did not ask to be appointed.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100820hed4.html

HEADLINES Noy can order suspension of GOCC, GFI perks Palace flays Angue as similar to 2004 poll fraud witnesses Singson out on HK$1-M bail, faces ethics probe Abads maintain tight grip on Noy gov’t financial affairs 7 Pinoys jailed in Maldives pardoned, repatriated to RP Noy toes bishops’ line: No divorce in RP