Palace expects smooth leadership transition at DILG

WALANG IBA KUNG HINDI SI MAR ROXAS: President Benigno S. Aquino III endorsed the 2016 presidential bid of Mar Roxas, in a gathering at the historic Club Filipino on July 31, 2015. (Photo: Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office)

MANILA — Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas will resign as the head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) after he was endorsed by President Aquino on Friday as the administration’s standard-bearer for the 2016 presidential election.

Some lawmakers from the oppositions called on the resignation of Roxas following his endorsement by the President.

“Of course that is a given,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview on Saturday.

“He will not stay in office para maakusahan siyang ginagamit ang kanyang posisyon. Certainly, he will not do that. It is a given that he will step down,” Valte told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Roxas is preparing for the leadership transition to ensure that his programs in the DILG will continue, she said.

Among the present programs in the DILG include the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG), Oplan Lambat Sibat of the Philippine National Police, as well as the release of patrol jeeps for the police in different municipalities.

“So tinutuloy naman po nila ang mga ito sa DILG, but si Secretary Roxas wants to make sure that the transition is smooth para walang ma-disrupt na service to the public.”

Valte said there were names being floated as Roxas’ successor at the DILG but there was still no confirmation yet, according to the Palace official.

Once there was somebody chosen to replace him, it would be announced to the public immediately, she said.