President Aquino is keeping his entire cabinet intact despite the involvement of some secretaries in alleged corruption anomalies prior to their appointments in the administration, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda dispelled speculations that the President was having second thoughts on keeping Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief Francis Tolentino after they were dragged in some controversies.

“None at all,” Lacierda said in a news conference in the Palace, when asked if the President’s relations with these concerned government officials have turned sour.

Lacierda said the President is satisfied with the explanation given by Singson that there was no midnight deal between Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor).

Singson, former president of Maynilad, allegedly connived with then Pagcor chair Efraim Genuino to push for a water distribution deal in a Las Vegas-type development complex in Parañaque City before the term of the Arroyo government ended last June. The agreement, if completed, reportedly would have deprived the government of nearly P4 billion in water concession fees.

“He (the President) was satisfied with the explanation given by them and we asked Secretary Singson to explain and which we did yesterday (Monday). It was shown there is no midnight deal. The construction was done as early as February of 2009,” Lacierda said.

Singson, speaking to reporters Monday, said he was ready to resign from the cabinet if allegations that he pushed an anomalous water distribution deal are proven.

As for the new MMDA chairman, Lacierda said the President was aware of the graft cases filed against Tolentino before appointing him to lead the MMDA.

“Let it be stated that during the entire term of Francis Tolentino as MMDA general manager, no case was filed before the Sandiganbayan,” Lacierda said. “The President thinks that this is purely harassment. All the cases filed against Francis Tolentino were filed by those candidates against his brother,” he added.

Tolentino, former three-term mayor of Tagaytay City, is a former classmate of President Aquino at the Ateneo de Manila University.  He previously served as president of the League of Cities of the Philippines.