Mar Roxas to turn over DILG post on Friday

Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. FILE PHOTO

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II will formally turn over his post to Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento on Friday, a Liberal Party (LP) official said.

In a press conference Wednesday, Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said Roxas will step down on Friday for Sarmiento, who is LP secretary general, to take over. Erice is LP chair for political affairs.

Roxas resigned from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Aug. 3 after he formally declared his bid to run against Vice President Jejomar Binay for the presidency in 2016.

READ: Roxas formally resigns as DILG secretary

During the multimedia forum of the Inquirer Group on Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III confirmed the appointment of Sarmiento as Interior Secretary.

READ: Western Samar congressman is next DILG chief — Aquino

Sarmiento was Calbayog city mayor from 2001 to 2010. He was vice mayor from 1992 to 1995.

He was also secretary general for the League of Cities of the Philippines from 2004 to 2010.

In the press briefing, Erice also confirmed the senatorial bid of Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino under LP. JE