Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Over a month after the anointment of the administration party’s standard-bearer, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday afternoon (September 8) has finally picked a new head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to replace incumbent Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
He is Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento of the First District of Western Samar.
Aquino made the announcement in an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer — adding that a period of transition was still being worked out and Sarmiento would also have to go through the Commission on Appointments (CA).
Sitting as the ruling Liberal Party’s (LP) secretary general, Sarmiento was a mayor of Calbayog City in 2001 and had been a member of the House of Representatives since 2010. He is also vice chairman of the CA.
Before this development, Roxas — who is the ruling Liberal Party’s (LP) presidentiable for 2016 — submitted his resignation letter three days after receiving Aquino’s endorsement at Club Filipino on August 3, but Malacañ asked him to stay on until a replacement could be named.
Related: Roxas to quit Cabinet post
Later, the administration received flak from critics for allegedly using government coffers to fund Roxas’ campaign sorties.
Related: Is Mar Roxas using government resources to get support for 2016?
