Roxas confirms light rail chief quit
Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas
Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Rafael Rodriguez has resigned to prepare a run for office in his province of Cavite next year.
Transportation Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II confirmed Rodriguez resigned effective the end of March.
“He came to see me last week and he expressed interest in a political future in Cavite,” Roxas told a press conference on Monday.
Sought for comment, Rodriguez texted the Philippine Daily Inquirer : “I just want to pursue again my social advocacy in Cavite. Being the president of Caviteños for Peace Environment and Economic Development (Cavspeed), I will concentrate again on the micro enterprises in Cavite.”
Rodriguez, of Kawit, was appointed LRTA administrator last year on the recommendation of former Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus.
He was managing partner of the Rodriguez de los Santos and Naidas Law Office for more than 25 years. He also served as general counsel and corporate secretary of various foreign and local corporations.
Prior to his appointment to the LRTA, Rodriguez was an elected provincial board member from Cavite’s first district. Among the laws he helped enact were the Cavite Investment Incentives Act and Cavite Tax Reform Act. He is also founding chair of the Cavite Cooperative Development Council.
He was the eighth administrator of the LRTA, succeeding Melquiades Robles.
In a separate statement, LRTA spokesperson and corporate secretary Hernando Cabrera said Rodriguez wanted to “concentrate on social responsibilities and advocacies” in Cavite.
Rodriguez is also currently an official of the Liberal Party’s Cavite chapter, together with Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi, Roxas noted.
Roxas is president of the ruling party which President Benigno Aquino III heads as chairman.
Earlier this month, Rodriguez was involved in a controversy over his appointment of several “consultants” to newly created posts in the LRTA.
LRTA resident ombudsman Ruby Gonzales said Rodriguez had been asked to explain the supposed employment of 36 consultants. Paolo G. Montecillo
