Aquino: Roxas quit to shield DILG, PNP from politics

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

President Benigno Aquino III on Friday told the country’s policemen that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas resigned from his post to shield the Philippine National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) from politics.

“Now that Secretary Mar is stepping down from office so that the tireless work of the DILG and our PNP will not be mixed with politics, I trust that the root of reform he planted is deep and would certainly flourish to further strengthen our police force,” President Aquino said in his speech at the PNP’s 114th police service anniversary in Camp Crame.

Mr. Aquino expressed gratitude for the “exemplary leadership” of Roxas at the DILG as well at the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

The President recalled that Roxas was suddenly thrust to the role of interior secretary because of the untimely death of then Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“But it is clear, Secretary Mar continued the outstanding initiatives of Jesse and he served as a bridge to implement reforms in your force,” Mr. Aquino said.

Despite an obvious uphill battle, President Aquino endorsed the presidential bid of Roxas as the standard bearer of the ruling Liberal Party.

However, Roxas has been lagging behind presidential surveys, placing fourth to Sen. Grace Poe, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.