P-Noy wants Mar to stay longer at DILG

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is not inclined to let go of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Manuel Roxas II just yet, as his anointed successor still has to “finish a lot of things” at the department. 

Aquino rejected Roxas’ resignation, which the latter relayed in a letter submitted late yesterday afternoon to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that in rejecting Roxas’ resignation, Aquino asked the Cabinet official to “complete urgent tasks and ensure smooth transition” in the DILG.

Earlier yesterday, Aquino said he was looking at several names to replace Roxas but “at the same time I might even prevail on him to stay in the post a little longer to finish a lot of the things that are being done.”

“There’s really a lot of work there that, again, the concept is not to prolong the suffering of our fellowmen,” the President said in an ambush interview after leading the 111th anniversary of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Quezon City.

For instance, Aquino said the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s “shoot, scoot and communicate” project is still ongoing. The project largely involves the upgrading of facilities and equipment of the police force.

“I am also following up on the informal settlers issue, especially in Metro Manila,” he added.

“So I’d like him to finish a lot of the things that can be finished before leaving the post and having the transition period,” Aquino said.

He also said he sees nothing wrong with helping Roxas campaign.

“Our party, as I’ve mentioned several times, is moving away from personality politics. What we are running after now is to have issue-based or platform-based politics. The idea there is whoever sits we can expect what direction (will be taken), what the quality of work (should be),” Aquino said.

The President explained that the coming elections would decide the fate of the nation, “so we need to help.” 

Aquino also said there was no basis for suspicion by some groups that the administration would use government funds for the 2016 elections.

“My only question is: have we ever done that?” Aquino said. 

He stressed that unlike in the past, his administration can’t be accused of having a “tradition” of using public funds for partisan purposes.

Aquino said the administration has been “scrupulous” in its use of funds as proven by the bigger number of beneficiaries of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the conditional cash transfer program.

“The number of PhilHealth members are increasing, it does not peak during elections. We don’t use PhilHealth to campaign,” Aquino said.

“From less than 800,000 families to 4.4 million households at this point in time,” Aquino said, referring to beneficiaries of the CCT program.

“So before accusing us of something that was done by others before, please check the records first,” he said.

Aquino said he dismissed critics’ call that he stop campaigning.

“So if you’re President of the Republic, you should no longer have an opinion? Then, on the one hand, you endorsed someone and tell him ‘bahala ka na sa buhay mo (take care of yourself)’,” the President said.

The President appointed Roxas as DILG chief on Aug. 31, 2012 after the death of then secretary Jesse Robredo. He came from the Department of Transportation and Communications, a position that he held for more than a year.

Roxas promised to resign as soon as possible after Aquino formally endorsed him as the standard-bearer of administration Liberal Party for the 2016 polls.

Emotional

An emotional Roxas bade goodbye yesterday to police and to DILG officials and employees at Camp Crame.

“I will always be proud of my association with you. I personally ask for this chance to say goodbye to all of you. I also feel sad,” Roxas said, his voice cracking.

The DILG secretary also apologized for occasionally pressuring his staff to get some things done immediately as part of public service.

“Today is a mix of sadness, joy, honor and other emotions. My friends, I will take this flag raising ceremony as an opportunity to say farewell,” Roxas said in Filipino.

“While we still have many plans to finish and some changes to set in place, I have to make way for your new leader. Last Friday, the President called me to continue the ‘straight path’ on a grander scale,” he said.

Administration congressmen said Roxas’ resignation was an indication of his integrity.

Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said executive officials with political plans should emulate Roxas’ example.

“I call on all who would be running in the forthcoming election to resign from their posts as officials of the executive department so that they would not be accused of using their positions for political purposes,” the senator said.

“They should follow the footsteps of Secretary Mar Roxas, who has announced his resignation as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” he said.

He said that by resigning early, concerned officials would help ensure smooth transition for their replacement.

It has been reported that Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is planning to run for senator in 2016.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone described Roxas’ resignation as “a class act.”

“It shows his inherent sense of delicadeza. He does not want to be accused of using government resources to advance his political interests,” Evardone said.

He said he had been expecting Roxas to resign as the latter had stated in one of the meetings of the LP that he would not stay a minute longer once he declares his presidential bid.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo said the resignation “validated Roxas’ integrity and character.”

“He could have stayed as DILG head until the filing of the certificate of candidacy in October but he does not want to be accused of using his position to further his political aspiration,” Castelo said.

“It was tough for him to leave the DILG family after almost three years of working closely with them. But for me, it’s just another tough decision that had to be done. And it was the right thing to do,” Quezon City Rep. Jorge Banal, an LP stalwart, said.

Roxas’ replacement

Senior administration lawmakers, meanwhile, are pushing for Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento to be Roxas’ replacement.

They also recommend Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas as possible replacement for De Lima, who is also expected to resign if she makes up her mind on running for senator.

Reps. Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte and Romero Quimbo of Marikina City said Tupas is the best man for the post to be vacated by De Lima.

Both Fariñas and Quimbo were part of the House prosecutorial team headed by Tupas that impeached then Supreme Court chief justice Renato Corona.

Quimbo said the position of justice secretary is best held by someone familiar with the intricacies of the bureaucracy and with the legal prowess of a litigation lawyer.

“We need not look far and wide for a justice secretary,” Quimbo said.

Iloilo Rep. Jerry Treñas said Sarmiento, like Roxas, “is a focused, dedicated and result-oriented public servant.”

He said Sarmiento is one of Roxas’ top advisers and problem solvers.

“I think that Congressman Mel Sarmiento is the best choice for the DILG. He and Secretary Mar have the same work ethic and have the same focus and commitment if they want to get things done. It would be really great if he will accept it if he is offered the job,” Treñas said.

Trenas said Sarmiento was a regular recipient of leadership excellence awards when he was mayor of Calbayog City.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles said Sarmiento has a strong grasp of the workings of local government units. – Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte-Felipe, Sheila Crisostomo, Marvin Sy, Perseus Echeminada