Prove you’re the ‘right men,’ Rep. Magsaysay challenges Roxas, Abaya

Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/Niño Jesus Orbeta

MANILA, Philippines—The incoming secretaries of the Departments of the Interior and Local Government and of Transportation and Communications face a lot of challenges ahead and must prove that they are the “right men for the job,” Deputy minority leader Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay said on Wednesday.

Magsaysay challenged Manuel “Mar” Roxas, who was appointed by President Aquino to head the DILG to fill the vacancy left by the late Jesse Robredo, and Joseph Emilio Abaya, who will be chief of the DoTC to replace Roxas, to solve the “lingering” problems in the agencies they will lead.

Magsaysay said that in order to be appointed by the Commission on Appointments, Roxas and Abaya will need to step up their game and resolve issues that have plagued the two departments that they will be presiding over soon.

Magsaysay cited in particular the rising criminality and the issues bugging the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Pointing out that CAAP director-general William Hotchkiss III’s appointment papers were already expired, Magsaysay asked, “Who is running CAAP?” She said that this, along with issues in the Land Transportation Office and the increase in the prices of petroleum products ,were things Abaya will need to resolve to prove his worth.

In Roxas’ case, Magsaysay said that he will have to “bring down the crime rate in the country and earn the respect of the PNP [Philippine National Police].”