GMA aide told: Explain meet with Ho

Malacañang finally admitted yesterday that President Arroyo appointed former Manila councilor Dan Roleda as her presidential assistant, not adviser, on foreign investments after Palace officials were initially clueless that there was such a post.

A presidential adviser carries the rank of Cabinet secretary, while a presidential assistant carries the rank of undersecretary.

Roleda’s portfolio became public knowledge after he figured in the controversial welcoming of Macau gambling taipan Stanley Ho on March 22 at Clark Field in Pampanga last week.

Contrary to the insinuations of the political opposition, Roleda swore there was no meeting between Ho and the President, who was also in Clark Mimosa on the day Ho was conferred an honorary degree by the Angeles University Foundation (AUF).

The President said Friday night that the last time she saw Ho was two years ago in Hong Kong, where they met "socially" at a state dinner hosted for her by Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) chief Tung Chee Wah.

Two days after Roleda’s portfolio became public knowledge, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo confirmed that the President appointed Roleda to his post only on March 4.

Saludo is the concurrent Cabinet secretary and acting head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), which keeps a record of all presidential appointees.

When he was interviewed yesterday morning over radio station dzMM, Saludo had yet to check the PMS records because the Palace offices were closed over the weekend, when a photograph of Roleda with Ho at Clark was published by the media.

"Since I have been serving as Cabinet Secretary, I could not recall such name among the papers that pass through me," he told dzMM. "Once we confirm that there is such an official by that name, we would suggest that he should explain what was the motive of Stanley Ho in coming here."

In a press briefing yesterday afternoon at the Palace, Saludo said his office found in their records the official appointment of Roleda as presidential assistant, not presidential adviser.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye told The STAR that they were trying to reach Roleda and convince him to appear before media to explain his side of the matter. Roleda did not appear at the Palace press briefing.

The STAR was able to reach Roleda through the President’s official campaign spokesman, Michael Defensor, who said he and Roleda were colleagues when they began their political careers as councilors.

Roleda was the councilor of the fifth district of Manila, while Defensor was a councilor in Quezon City.

As councilor, Defensor recalled, Roleda figured in a controversial lover’s quarrel with former entertainment personality Star Querubin, who was then Roleda’s girlfriend and who filed a complaint against him.

Roleda topped the Bar in 1981 and was a top law school graduate from the University of Santo Tomas (UST). He was also a former adviser of Ho, according to Defensor.

Roleda initially refused to appear before media to explain his meeting with Ho, but he granted a brief telephone interview with The STAR.

"There was nothing illicit or illegal in receiving Mr. Ho," Roleda said.

Roleda told The STAR that it was part of his duty to welcome Ho at Clark, which he described as an "investors’ area" because it is one of the special economic zones being offered to potential investors.

"It is my duty to welcome any potential investors," Roleda said. "So there is nothing wrong with that."

"(Ho) is not a criminal," Roleda added. "He was even conferred the Knighthood of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1986."

Roleda told The STAR he had been appointed to his post since last year, but could not recall the exact date of his appointment.

While Saludo was still uncertain about Roleda’s portfolio, he said, "(Roleda’s) welcoming of Stanley Ho, it seems — we’re trying to confirm this — is part of what he does with big-name tycoons in the country as part of his functions in promoting foreign investments."

"As far as I know, there was no business transacted with Mr. Ho," Saludo said. "It was just pure courtesy and, certainly, a presidential assistant on foreign investments is well within his functions to welcome big-name business people from abroad."

Quoting the President, Saludo said Ho did not have any gambling business deals with the state-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. as reported to her by Pagcor chief Ephraim Genuino.

Saludo refused to comment on questions about Roleda’s propriety in meeting Ho, who was once Roleda’s client prior to Roleda’s appointment as presidential assistant.

"All I can say is the meeting certainly was not cleared with the President," Saludo said. "There were no communications with the President. The President did not meet with Dr. Ho, neither did Mr. Genuino of Pagcor have any communications with Dr. Ho."

"The issue is not an issue at all," he added. "(Ho) came here not to do business but to receive a doctorate. We accept that explanation by AUF and we do not wish to take it further."