Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile's Press
Statement on the Appointment of Sec. Mar Roxas

President Benigno C. Aquino III's designation of Manuel "Mar" A. Roxas II as the new Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government to fill the vacancy left by the tragic passing of Jesse Robredo only shows the depth of the President's trust and confidence in Sec. Roxas.

Mar Roxas was earlier appointed as the replacement for former DOTC Secretary Ping de Jesus, whose resignation from the cabinet deeply saddened me because he was a very dedicated and honest public servant.

Now, the President has summoned Sec. Mar Roxas once again to handle an even greater and more formidable challenge: How to keep up with the people's highest expectations, being well aware of the extolled virtues and achievements of the late Jesse Robredo.Anybody at this point would surely suffer the burden of the inevitable comparison. To follow in Jesse's footsteps is certainly not an easy task, and to say that Mar has "big shoes to fill" would be an understatement.

I believe that Secretary Roxas is well prepared for and can step up to this Herculean task. All of us who mourn the passing of our beloved friend Jesse and who celebrate his legacy as a public servant will do well to throw our full support to his appointed successor.

I trust that the Palace will immediately transmit his appointment papers to the Commission on Appointments so that we can confirm Secretary Roxas as soon as possible. I also hope that Secretary Roxas will stay long enough at the helm of the DILG to be able to pick up from where Jesse Robredo left off and to continue to honor his lasting legacy.

I congratulate and wish the new DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, who was my close ally and worthy colleague in the Senate, all the best in his new assignment.