Roxas to Step Down as Cabinet Member

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas will step down from his Cabinet post following President Benigno Aquino III’s endorsement for the 2016 presidential elections.

Roxas announced his resignation at the flag ceremony Monday with the Philippine National Police (PNP). GMA News Online report said he will tender his resignation on Monday afternoon, adding that the President already knows about the decision.

Roxas,the presumed standard bearer of the Liberal Party in 2016 , said he already talked with PNoy regarding his stepping down.

“Hindi naman siya mabibigla. Napag-usapan na namin nu’ng Sabado. Alam naman niya. Ang kaniyang nabanggit is, ‘Oo, pero siguraduhin mo na proper turnover,’Roxas said.

Present during the flag ceremony were PNP officials led by its chief, Director General Ricardo Marquez, lawmakers Quezon City Reps. Bolet Banal, Alfred Vargas, and Kit Belmonte, Cavite Reps. Boyblue Abaya, AA Advincula, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez, and Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez.

After the flag ceremony, Roxas proceeded to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) main office in Quezon City to also say his goodbye to the staff there.

Last Friday, the President officially endorsed Roxas as his preferred successor at a “gathering of friends” at Club Filipino in San Juan City, the same venue where the outgoing DILG chief gave way to then-Sen. Aquino’s bid in 2010 elections.