Aquino set to interview 2 candidates for DILG chief post

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III is now scrutinizing the credentials of two people as the hunt for the successor of Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II begins.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Aquino said he would interview the two possible candidates to replace Roxas to find out if one of them will qualify and willing to handle the pressure of being the head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Aquino, however, did not identify the two candidates.

“Both seem to be willing pero gusto kong i-confirm sa kanila dahil siyempre, lalo na the remaining 10 months or so parang ‘yung tail end lalo na ng kampanya, grabe ang pressure na aabutin ng DILG secretary, ” the president said in a media interview in Malacañang.

Roxas has been endorsed by Aquino on July 31 as the administration’s standard-bearer for the 2016 elections and he will vacate his DILG post as soon as the new Interior chief is named.