MANILA, Philippines - A top official of the administration party will be the new secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday.
In a media forum aired on state-run People's Television, Aquino revealed that he has offered the top DILG post to Samar Rep. Mel Sarmiento, the secretary general of the Liberal Party.
Sarmiento will replace Secretary Manuel Roxas II who was endorsed by Aquino last July as the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) for the 2016 presidential election.
Roxas offered to resign from his post following Aquino's endorsement.
The president, however, asked Roxas to stay longer in the DILG so he could complete his unfinished work as a Cabinet official. Aquino said the DILG project of upgrading the facilities and equipment of the police force is ongoing.
Aquino also cited the issue of informal settlers in Metro Manila.
"So I’d like him to finish a lot of the things that can be finished before leaving the post and having the transition period," Aquino said.