President Aquino on Friday appointed Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas as the new chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Roxas, 55, an economist and president of the Liberal Party (LP), will take over the position vacated by the late DILG chief Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash last August 18.
Speaking to reporters, Aquino said Roxas was on top of a short list of candidates as Robredo’s replacement even before they had confirmed that he had died in the crash.
“When Secretary Robredo was missing, we had to entertain the possibility [of a replacement]. I told Mar that he was first on my shortlist in case we had to replace Jesse,” the President said.
“Hindi naman pwedeng patagalin ang pagtakbo ng gobyerno. Kailangan siguraduhin natin yung functions na hindi nagawa ng naitalaga ay ipasa na kaagad sa isang tao na magpapatuloy sa magandang naumpisahan ni Jesse,” he added.
Asked if Roxas’ appointment was a political move in preparation for the 2013 and 2016 elections, Aquino said he appointed Roxas because he knows that he can do the job.
“If I appoint an alter ego that can’t do the work, then I will have to do the work myself. I will have to appoint someone because I have full trust in him and it will lessen the number of things that i must pay attention to every day,” he said.
Aquino also appointed Liberal Party colleague Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya as the new secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Abaya is the secretary-general of the LP.
A Philippine Star report earlier quoted sources as saying the President wants Roxas to take over Robredo’s post because the DOTC chief has the capability and integrity to continue the reforms in the DILG.
Like Robredo, Roxas has never been involved in anomalies, sources told the newspaper.
“It’s easy to make money in DOTC,” one of the sources said.
They said Abaya was “like-minded” and could be trusted to carry out reforms.
“We need someone with integrity. Jun (Abaya) has the credentials, even on the technical aspect. Honest people who will push for reforms, (we need people) on the same page,” one of the sources said. Abaya is an engineer.
‘It’s the LP show now’
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, meanwhile, blasted Roxas’ appointment as another display of partisan politics meant to favor the Liberal Party of President Aquino.
Bayan secretary-general Renato M. Reyes, Jr. said Roxas’ appointment gives the impression that the LP will be given undue advantage in the 2013 polls. He said Roxas should take a leave as LP president until after the elections.
“It seems the Liberal Party has gotten the upper hand on this one. It wants control of a department that has strategic value for the upcoming 2013 elections and eventually the 2016 elections. The partisan political motivation of Roxas’ appointment is too obvious to ignore,” he said in a statement.
He added: “The so-called daang matuwid has been trumped anew by narrow, partisan politics. It’s the LP show now.”
The DILG chief would have influence over the police and local government units, which could be a crucial advantage in swinging the votes for 2013.
It is the second Cabinet posting for Roxas under the Aquino administration and the third since he joined the executive branch under the Estrada administration as its trade and industry secretary in 2000.
Roxas gave up his presidential bid in 2009 and ran instead as running mate of then-Senator Noynoy Aquino. Aquino won but Roxas lost to former Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay in a close vice-presidential race. Roxas has a pending electoral protest against Binay.
Roxas is married to ABS-CBN TV Patrol co-anchor Korina Sanchez.
Rico Puno out of DILG
By Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN
Newly appointed Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said Undersecretary Rico Puno will be given another assignment outside the DILG.
Roxas said the President has given him the free hand to bring his own people into the agency.
He said all co-terminus positions in the agency are to be vacated.
“[The President] gave me a free mandate to choose my team. I would expect that lahat ng mga co-terminus would be vacated by the time na pumasok tayo. Ayon sa Pangulo, may ibang assignment siya na naiisip para kay Usec. Puno,” he said.
Puno’s appointment at the DILG became controversial after it was learned that he was given control of the Philippine National Police, instead of then acting DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, before the August 2010 Manila hostage crisis.
He also drew flak after confirming that he had received feelers from emissaries of jueteng operators.
Meanwhile, Roxas said he will have full control of the police. “’Yan ang sinabi sa akin. In any event, sinabi na ng Pangulo sa kanyang remarks. Hindi naman dapat na ako pa ang mag-interpret. Ang Pangulo na ang nagsabi,” he said.
Roxas vowed to clamp down on all forms of crime, including jueteng.
“On jueteng, on drugs, on kidnapping, illegal logging, malinaw na malinaw naman ang posisyon ng Pangulo dito sa krimen na ito. At gagampanan ko ang aking tugkulin para matigil at mahuli lahat itong mga gumagawa ng masama na ito,” he told reporters.
From Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino:
We view with apprehension the impending appointment of Sec. Mar Roxas to the post of DILG secretary.
Considering his leading position in the Liberal party and his plans to run for high office in 2016, this will definitely further politicize the position and make the DILG even more vulnerable to patronage and politics and unfair machinations by the ruling party.
We dread the day that the DILG will be converted into the Dept. of the Interior and Liberal Party Government.
Posted in an earlier thread:
saxnviolins – August 31, 2012 10:21 am
Mar is a wimp. The jueteng lords must be snickering. Siya ba, happy days are here again.
Plus, Robredo set the bar really high. So Mar will look mediocre in comparison.
Is that why Binay stepped aside? To give Mar a rope long enough to hang himself politically? Sly fox.
Posted in an earlier thread:
henry90 – August 31, 2012 10:26 am
Jun Abaya is a good choice for the DOTC post. We served together in the PSG during Cory’s time. During that time, he was already a multi-millionaire, yet, he remained very low-key and self-effacing. Annapolis 88 and an Engineer by training and education, DOTC is lucky to have one of the most honest and competent guys I have ever come to work with. BFF Robredo would have been happy with his appointment.
I don’t know Mr. Roxas, but his statements regarding moving his own people into DILG management slots, and intent to pursue all forms of illegal acts including jueteng, does not sound like the acts of a “wimp”.
Perhaps it is possible to view Mr. Roxas as a wimp for taking up a rather obscure cabinet position after losing the VP slot. Or maybe he is just dedicated.
I agree that, given the importance of his current assignment and the potential for conflict of interest in dealing with a lot of people of various parties, he should give up the LP leadership post. Good governance is more important than strong politicking.
I’ll give Mar Roxas the benefit of the doubt,the article written by Boo Chanco about him was too alarming to ignore,if he fail this time i’m sure he will bring down all his partymates with him.Too much was at stake here,surely Mar will be constantly compare to Jess Robredo which will be a tough act to follow.Peace and order and illegal gambling will be the biggest challenge for him so he needs to appoint a tough honest and committed usec whose only duty is to pursue and neutralize all the criminals of all forms.Surely this will make or break Mar Roxas.
DILG is now Department of Interior and Liberal Party.
@Jay, I’m not sure I understand the argument that President Aquino should pick people who are likely to oppose him, versus the people who think like him and whom he has confidence in. Some people criticized his appointment of CJ Seereno because she ruled in his favor on certain cases (not allowing Ms. Arroyo to escape). Now you seem to imply he should have picked outside the labor party. He is supposed to pick people who have a different allegiance or priority than him? That will enable him to get constructive things done?
Congrats to Mar Roxas. Binigay na ni Pnoy ang kailngan nya pra makuha nya pinapangarap nya sa 2016. Mataas ang pangarap nya… kaya mataas din expectation sa kanya ng sambayanan… agree, this will make or break him. sana magtagumpay sya, dahil una at higit sa lahat, peace and order ang nakasalalay dito… good luck!
Wala na si Rico Puno sa DILG ngayon si Mar Roxas na hepe, ganun kadali sya tanggalin kung gusto. Bakit pinahirapan nila si Mang Jessie na makatrabaho ang asintado sa baril na palpak naman sa assignment. Sana na-implement ni MJR ang sariling policy/style sa kapulisan, peace and order at jueteng.
Ibinigay na lahat ni Pnoy ang kapritso ni Mar at Liberal party, sana pakinabangan nila sa 2016.
like lacson for DILG but have no complaints with Mar Roxas. I somehow know he means well for the people and our country. Hope he will be successfull sa DILG else if he fails more likey Binay may get the presidency come 2016.
on one hand, the Public is clamouring for a Strong Party system and on the Other hand, it does not want a Party ideologue representing the government to work for the same government…that is what Politics is all about…carry your Party Platforms and Programs and who could do it better other than the Party adherents? The Prime Minister (Party Leader) and Cabinet members are always members of the Party and the elected Members and being in the Position is Like being in the Campaign trail as they are judge by the voters for their performance for the next Election…And Mar’s Performance in the DILG Ministry will make or break his Presidential Ambitions…and as a Liberal…
And to Bayan Muna Rep. Casino…who is also a Politician representing the Bayan Muna Partylist a reminder that Mar Roxas is a Member and Officer of the Liberal Party, A political Party who is now in government headed by President Aquino..it is Politics by all means and Purposes and it needs its own Party members to work for its Platforms and Programs and the promises and Plans of Action it is planning to do during its mandate…the word politizised is only made worse because of the prevailing perception of what the politicians are doing that were not part of their mandate…so stop making it worse…it is the individual politicians, not the Party that are the culprits here…
Que va! I was hoping Senator Lacson would be the next SILG but I guess Secretary Roxas can’t be too bad, either. Let’s hope he can kick some butts. We hope he can straighten the PNP and the LGU’s. Buena suerte, señor Secretario.
Is Mar Roxas failed in DOTC so he wear another shoes as DILG chief and Rico Puno is out of the way that easy, but not during Jesse’s time. Regardless of his political ambition, I’m more concerned on current peace & order situation in the country. Let’s see how Mar deliver the goods to eliminate urban plagues & hoodlums in uniform. Nasa tuwid na daan ba talaga tayo at hindi masakripisyo ang walang katapusang pagbabayad ng utang na loob.
I was hoping that Sen. Ping Lacson would be appointed to the DILG portfolio. He would have been a perfect fit for DILG considering his no nonsense style of leadership. He wielded an iron-hand rule in dealing with organized crime syndicate and erring policemen. He means business, practice what he preaches and maintained a no take policy in so far as jeuteng is concerned. Kaya ng sila nagkasira ni ERAP dahil tinugis ni Sthen C/PNP Ping Lacson ang lahat ng operator ng jueteng. His record at PNP will speak for himself. Sayang……
Etong si Teddy Casino parang kahapon lang ipinanganak. Natural na kaalyado ni PNOY ang i-a-appoint niya sa pwesto. Be realistic. Talagang ganyan sa politics. Wake up! You are also a part of the dirty political system. Ang hirap sa inyong mga left leaning partylist, wala ng ibang magaling kundi kayo e wala naman kayong mapatunayan. Puro kayo rally against the government wal naman kayong alternative solution sa mga problema ng bansa. Magpakatoo naman kayo paminsan minsan, you hypocrites!
I don’t understand why the peace and order situation is being passed on as a burden to the SILG? Is it not the concern of the Mayors and Governors themselves? The local leaders should rise and fall on this issue. Ditto with jueteng. That’s a territorial problem. People should instead be clamoring for an iron willed PNP Chief. Let’s focus on the people directly responsible in addressing these problems. The SILG, as alter ego of the President, is only responsible for laying out policies with regard to LGU concerns and harmonize them with the national programs.
That was where Robredo was good at. Make the peace and order problem an election issue for the local leaders. Choose a good PNP Chief like Lacson in his time. Problem solved.
I think Pres. Pnoy knows what he is doing, Mar Roxas is his choice. He felt Mar is the best among the 5-listed names to head the DILG, after Jess Robredo (RIP) met a traumatic airplane accident. It could be Mar’s rise and fall, and a big challenge for him to carry the “crosses”-problems in the DILG office..If he make IT good, then, He follow the steps of Jesse. If he fails, his political career is diminish..Give him a chance for a benefit of doubt!..He wanted to show “something” better than the late Jesse R….But, the best, which would appear transparent,with good objectives and intention, he should relinquish his LP presidency and give chance to other deserving LP members..my food for thoughts, for a change..
Let’s give Mar a chance. Cheers!
Congratulations to Sec. Mar. I would have wanted Sen. Ping for the position. Sec. Mar is just fine, though Ping would have been better. At least Rico Puno is out, but not down. He may just pop up at DoD. Now, let’s see how it goes with Mar at the helm of DILG.
Cheers y’all.
Sen. Ping Lacson would have been a perfect fit sa DILG. He instills discipline at hindi kinakain ng masamang sistema ng politika. Hindi beholden sa appointing power. Walang kinatatakutan basta sa pagpapatupad ng batas ang pag-uusapan.
re #15
It’s clear, The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public safety, and strengthening the capabilities of local government units. It is also responsible for the Philippine National Police.
Good luck talaga kay kuya Mar, I wish he can perform well at DILG so he won’t experience a second heartbreak in 2016.
Good luck talaga kay Mar, sabi ni Magno R! Kaya lang, hindi pa nag iinit sa upuan si Mar, pumasok na agad si Korina vs Binay: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/261806/korina-sanchez-talks-of-dark-little-evil-spirits-binay-cries-foul
Patabihin at i-zip nga muna si ate Koring, pinagmumukha nyang lemon na lemon si kuya Mar. 🙂
Nothing wrong with appointing a partymate to a certain position. It’s but logical that PNOY will appoint his fellow LP sa DILG. That’s the reality of politics Mr. Casino. Parang kang ipinanganak kahapon. Wag kang ngawa ng ngawa.
@19
He is not an elected official. He can be replaced anytime by the appointing authority. Can you do the same to the Mayors and Governors? Why should they depend on the SILG for the solution of their territorial problems? They get to choose their own chiefs of police. Policy making body and DILG. Local executives ang nagpapatupad. There you go.
I have no doubt Mar is intelligent and capable. But what has he accomplished in DOTC? Aside from stopping and delaying the airport upgrade, reversing and delaying the Northrail Southrail connection, and no new highways, trains, ports, airports built in his time at DOTC, I don’t approve of this kind of moving around/promotion from one dept. to the other without any accomplishments whatsoever.
I’m sorry for my friend Ruffy Biazon, for example, who is being groomed for the senate, but what has he done in Customs to merit such promotion? Are the petty busts that come once in a while, sufficient to say his job is done? So with Roxas.
Mar may have not been involved in jueteng but being related to the Aranetas/Arroyos technically makes him a relative of the illegal gambling lords, don’t it? He has not been in a position that involves direct law enforcement, except maybe in Coast Guard, which by the way was bypassed by the Navy in Scarborough that we are now experiencing this grand headache no Chinaman’s pill could cure.
His forte is high finance, so departments such as the DOTC (an engineer-friendly post) or DILG (best reserved for public admin/criminologists) are just not him.
#24. Sakto ule ruler mo, tongue.
hindi lang malaking tsinelas ni Robredo ang kailngan punuin na Mar, pati na rin ang mas malaking expectation ng publiko dahil sa 2016 presidential election… nasabi ni Mar na magiging successful lang sya sa DILG kung kakalimutan nya ang 2013 or 2016 election. tama naman, dahil tulad na din siguro na nangyari sa DOTC, nakakasira ng diskarte at nakakabawas ng political will…
malalaman natin yan sa 2013 election kung epektibo ba talaga sya sa DILG… kung ipagpapatuloy nya ba ang paghawak dito or magresign na lang para tumakbo sa pagkakongresista ng Capiz…
Command responsibility as SILG – it’s not the question of who’s appointed & who’s being elected because the PNP and LGU’s are under the office of DILG. The peace & order of the country is at “stake” at kung iaasa na naman natin ang solusyon sa mga local executives natin sana bihira na tayong nakakapanood ngayon ng mga iba’t-ibang krimen na araw-araw na lang nasa pahayagan at tv.
Name the SILG when Lacson was PNP Chief. See that? Mahirap irecall no? Kasi effective ang C, PNP. Ditto with Mayors Duterte, Hagedorn and Robredo. If their cities were peaceful and progressive then, did we even bother to think who the SILG was? Lahat naman ito boils down to politics. Roxas or whoever it is in SILG is inconsequential. Kung si Abaya kaya ang nag SILG, will he merit the same discussion here? No. Dahil ba perceived presidential candidate si Roxas? It took a plane crash for most people to realize Robredo’s good deeds. Kasi di naman sya presidentiable kaya di man lang nabigyan ng publicity until he died.
henry, makisabat, hehe.. si Mayor Lim and SILG nung time ni Lacson.
tama ka nman, mga local govt at ang PNP Chief/Directors and dapat maghandle ng peace and orders and jueteng issues.. pero ano nman gagawin ng national govt kung pasaway ang PNP Chief at local executives? hindi ba dapat SILG and kumilos at pumukpok sa mga pasaway?
I can see your point now henry, I’m praying mali ako and hoping that the PNP and our local leaders will focus more on almost of the daily crimes happening specially in metropolis. Let’s all hope for the best for our country.
re #29
That’s my point perl, single-out ko dito si sen. Lacson yong ginawa niyang crackdown sa PNP effective talaga kasi naniniwala ako na maraming hoodlums in uniform na karaniwang bossing ng mga salot sa lipunan. Typical instance sa lugar namin halimbawa sa jueteng lantarang magkakutsaba ang Gobernador, Prov’l. Director at mayors. Tama ka ang puwede lang mag relieve sa kanila e SILG kung walang political agenda. Anyway let’s give sec. Roxas a chance bago pa lang naman siya at inuulit ko I’m praying sana nga mali ako.
hmmm….lots of people here have short term memory. Kuya Ping at DILG?? Same senator who went awol as a senator? Patago-tago abroad and came back with no charges filed, dios mio naman. Pnoy thought of this decision wisely although Roxas being picked is another story.
A fresh face such as Abaya would have been a good choice, not Roxas, but this Pinas politics we are talking about, anything from the gutter is fair play.
@ tru blue – You seem to have a short memory too. It’s more than one year since Sen Ping Lacson returned. Let me refresh your memory. Sen. Lacson returned because the warrant for his arrest was quashed by the CA, and the charges against him [Dacer Corbito double murder] were dropped because the CA found that the testimonies of former Police Col. Cesar Mancao II were incredible. He was declared by the CA as NOT A TRUSTWORTHY witness because of his penchant for changing his affidavit. Hindi naman siguro kaila sa iyo na ang may pakana ng pagsasampa ng kaso laban kay Sen. Ping Lacson ay si Mike Arroyo and his wife GMA. They want to see Sen. Lacson behind bars, and begging for his freedom. But Sen Lacson declared: ” I will not give you [Mike Arroyo} the luxury of seeing me behind bars. Come and get me.”
# 32
Fred Lim. He was not noticed, perhaps, because he did nothing for the LGUs.
Prior to Fred Lim, Cory had Nene Pimentel – known more for the OIC appointments than for anything else. Talk about empowerment of LGU officials. Empower them by removing them; presuming that they all cheated, including those who were anti-Macoy.
Then Nene was replaced by Cezar Sarino. Cezar who?
That’s right. Apparently, walang nagawa.
Ramos had Raffy Alunan III. His grandfather was also Secretary of the Interior of MLQ. Bokya rin.
You remember Angie Reyes of course. Well-known as an incompetent, even before he shot himself. Bokya din, as in his previous posting – Defense Secretary.
Come to think of it, lahat bokya, except Robredo, in the LGU arm of the DILG, and Ping, in the PNP arm of the DILG.
And now we have Mar.
Mar in Spanish means sea. In a positive light, it may mean that the soft-spoken Mar has a lot of potential. It may also mean a sea change (broad transformation) – from Robredo’s policies, to something even better; or something worse.
Mar, in English means a disturbance – as in “The game was marred by fisticuffs between hooligans and other fans.”
So will Mar be an agent for a sea change, or will he mar Robredo’s improvements by bungling the job? Only time will tell. But if the mass removal of Jesse’s people is any indication, it may be more of mar in the English sense, than in the Spanish sense. After all, one who wishes to continue the predecessor’s policies will keep some of his men, in order to learn from them, how the predecessor operated.
Cory kept Teehankee, Ameurfina Melencio-Herrera, Hugo Gutierrez. Allan Greenspan was appointed by Reagan, and retained by George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
“…one who wishes to continue the predecessor’s policies will keep some of his men, in order to learn from them, how the predecessor operated.” -#38
If Mar proceeds on removing/dispersing all JR’s men, it only means one thing, MR’s common sense in not working. I wish Roxas did not promise anything but just implement his own policies so he could carve a name of his own at DILG.
re #37
rexyboy well said! you absolutely have a fresher memory…
@37 and 40: Kitamo, one chameleon pitches a nonsense rejoinder, and a salamander quickly barked his firey approval. Magno, huwag ka nang makisali, hehehe….
@37: For sane discussion, your point is well taken but you’re missing the whole point. Leaving the country instead of facing the music? That’s a real stinger, especially a senator who thinks of himself as tough as nails. Did he really think he will be sent to prison? This is Pinas politics, and I cannot over emphasize such crap in our country. Just to name a few; Ligot, Corona, John Martir, Garcia, Gloria and spouse, Mikey, Imelda, blah, blah, blah. They’re all free despite their crimes.
And for you to justify Ping’s appointment to the DILG is what’s quite wrong in this country when choosing people in critical position.
Ping Lacson as bading? Why not? If this man from the Bay Area became a turncoat after 28 years of marriage to, yes to a woman, with four children…why can’t Ping be included?
As they say, everything is possible.
I had a coworker once (state of california), with the looks of Fabio, maybe better looking….then one day decided to leave his wife and two children for a dick, and took off to Florida.
Another one was a claims manager named Larry Middleton, who one day said screw it, got tired being a prick and became Lisa Middleton, from guapo to atrocious looking. This you can probably google.
@Tru blu – Who wants to get jailed for a crime he has not committed? Everyone knows that all the charges against Sen. Ping Lacson were fabricated. Big Mike Arroyo wants to get even. You should remember that the DoJ and practically all lower Courts and the Supreme Court were controlled by GMA at the height of the Dacer Corbito double murder. Now tell me, in that scenario then, can Sen. Ping Lacson get a fair trial? I don’t think so. So he fled. Ikaw ba papayag na makulong for something you have not committed? I don’t think so. I was not justifying Sen. Lacson’s appointment to the DILG post. It’s was just a wishful thinking. Baka hindi mo naintindihan yung earlier post ko. Eto yun. “I was hoping that Sen. Ping Lacson would be appointed to the DILG portfolio. He would have been a perfect fit for DILG considering his no nonsense style of leadership”. Now, was I justifying his appointment? I don’t think so.