Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Transportation Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas denied on Monday that President Benigno Aquino III has offered him to head the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The DILG post was left vacant by the sudden demise of Secretary Jesse Robredo, who perished in a plane crash in Masbate last August 18.
“Huwag kayong making sa mga spekulasyon na ganyan. Wala naming ganun e,” Roxas said over ABS-CBN’s morning show “Umagang Kay Ganda.”
He refused to say however whether or not he was willing to take the post if offered to him, saying it was premature to talk about it now.
“Hintahyin na lang natin na ilibing si Sec. Jess. Talagang hindi namantama na pag usapan ito di ba? Hindi pa natin sya nalilibing at bilang paggalang sa kanyang memorya , sa kanyang legacy ay ilagay natin sya katahimikan,” Roxas said.
What was important, he said, an officer-in-charge was appointed to ensure that that the DILG would continue its operations despite the sudden death of Robredo.
Aquino appointed Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa as OIC of the department until the President finds Robredo’s replacement.
Both Roxas and Ochoa were mentioned in newspapers reports as among those allegedly being considered for the vacant post.