Aquino swears in Roxas as new DILG head
President Benigno S. Aquino III swore in on
Saturday former senator Manuel Roxas II in Malacanang as the new secretary of
the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) replacing the late
Secretary Jesse Robredo who died last August.
The President appointed Roxas to head the DILG
to continue the reforms left by Robredo at the department. Robredo died in a
plane crash on August 18.
Roxas, the former secretary of the Department of
Transportation and Communications, was succeeded by another Aquino ally, Rep.
Joseph Abaya. Roxas and Abaya were confirmed by the Commission on Appointments
last September 19.
In a press conference at the Palace after his
oath taking, Roxas said his initial move is to submit his leave of absence as
the president of the Liberal Party (LP), expecting the President will accept
it. The LP has a mechanism, as to who will replace him as party president, he
said.
Roxas noted that he had asked the President for
him to leave the LP to avoid conflict of interest while he serves as the DILG
secretary.
When he starts as DILG chief on Monday, Roxas
said he’ll first assess the needs of the department—one for the local
government units and one for peace and security. The new DILG secretary
underscored the importance of making sure that necessary structures are there
for the department to function effectively.
Roxas said the primary instruction of the
President is to ensure peace and security in the country particularly as the
government prepares for the midterm election in May next year.
“So ipapa-prioritize natin ang laban sa pagsugpo
sa kriminalidad. And parallel to this ay yung pagpapalakas, pagpapatibay sa mga
LGUs dahil sa paghatid ng programa ng gobyerno ang LGUs ang talaga namang nasa
frontline,” Roxas told reporters.
Roxas also made an assurance that he’ll continue
Robredo’s programs on LGUs that ensure transparency in their transactions to
gain public trust in government at least at the local level.
It is necessary because the national government
allots around P300 billion to local government units each year, and they must
be held accountable to the people on how they spend their money. PND
(as/2:12pm)
Palace says police already augmented security to
protect foreign nationals in Metro Manila
Malacanang made an assurance on Saturday that
foreign nationals, particularly Americans, shall remain safe in Metro Manila
despite a statement released by the US embassy calling its citizens to exercise
extreme caution while in the metropolis.
The US Embassy in Manila advises its citizens
that a threat against American citizens in metropolitan Manila, specifically
the Pasay City neighborhood, has been detected by reliable security forces. The
US Embassy said in its statement that the threat remains in effect until
October 10, 2012.
In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan,
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the National Capital Region
Police Office (NCRPO) has already beef up security in Metro Manila to ensure
peace and security amid protest actions by Muslims against a controversial
film.
“We spoke with General Espina of the NCRPO
yesterday and security has been augmented kahapon pa. So, bago pa lumabas ‘yung
balitang ‘yan nag-augment na ng security ang NCRPO particularly to the US facility
along Roxas Boulevard,” Valte said. “As a matter of precaution we have already
augmented security.”
Since the assumption of Gen. Leonardo Espina as
the NCRPO chief, the public could notice increased police visibility in the
metropolis, Valte said adding the Philippine National Police is also
implementing a new system of areas of responsibility.
The PNP now strictly carries out eight-hour
shifts for police personnel and require them to observe a two-minute response
time when the public calls for police assistance, the Palace official said.
Asked by reporters about the government’s plan
to protect the public from the continuing protests, Valte said they haven’t
seen mass actions becoming violent.
“Let’s be fair. So far the protests have been
very peaceful and have been very orderly,” she said. PND (as/2:36pm)
