Palace sees no need for loyalty check among allies

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang won't conduct a loyalty check among its allies even after one of its closest supporter has severed ties with President Benigno Aquino III over the Mamasapano incident.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. downplayed Akbayan Party-list Rep. Walden Bello's withdrawal of support for Aquino.

"Internal matter lang ‘yan ng Akbayan Party-list. Hindi kailangan (ng loyalty check)," Coloma said.

RELATED: Palace brushes off Bello's withdrawal of support for PNoy

Coloma also said the Aquino administration still considers Akbayan Party-list as an ally despite Bello's words against the president.

"Hindi naman ito nagpapahiwatig ng paghina ‘nung pakikiisa ng Akbayan sapagkat patuloy naman silang naglilingkod sa pamahalaan at patuloy pa rin nilang itinuturing ang kanilang pangkat o organisasyon bilang kaalyado ng pamahalaang Aquino," Coloma said.

Bello said on Wednesday that he can no longer support Aquino since he is clearing himself of any responsibility for the January 25 mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that left 44 Special Action Force troopers dead.

The lawmaker accused Aquino of engaging in a "brazen cover-up" by passing all the blame on relieved SAF commander Getulio Napeñas.

Bello called Aquino a "small-minded bureaucrat" who "knows nothing of command responsibility or of honor."

Akbayan Party-list said Bello's statements do not reflect the group's views.

In a meeting with evangelical leaders on Monday, Aquino claimed that Napeñas gave him wrong information about the Mamasapano operation.

READ: Aquino: I was fooled on Mamasapano mission

He said Napeñas lacked professionalism and did not obey his order to coordinate with the military.