Tupas, Sarmiento to head DOJ, DILG?

MANILA, Philippines - Now that Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II was officially endorsed by President Aquino as the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), vacancies in the Cabinet will inevitably be made as the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy in October draws near.

Sources hinted Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, the LP secretary general and a close friend, would be taking over once Roxas steps down and files his candidacy.

Another agency that will be vacated would be the Department of Justice as Secretary Leila de Lima is expected to be included in the 12-person senatorial lineup of the administration coalition for the May 2016 elections.

Sources also revealed that another LP stalwart, Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., now on his third and last term as congressman, would be leaving behind his congressional district in his home province for less than a year until the elections are over.

Tupas, a lawyer by profession, headed the House prosecution team in the impeachment of former chief justice Renato Corona in December 2011.

It is not yet clear, however, whether Sarmiento and Tupas – both last-termers – will still be running for elective posts other than their congressional districts or if they have plans to run for governor or mayor.

In such case, they will also have to file their certificates of candidacy by October.

There were also reports that either former Pangasinan congressman and agrarian reform secretary Hernani Braganza or current Undersecretary Austere Panadero may take over the DILG post.

There will be a two-week transition before Roxas steps down as DILG chief now that Aquino has finally endorsed him after several months of speculations.

Roxas’ reported running mate should have been Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, but sources say this doesn’t sit well with Aquino, whom the former Taguig congressman described as “topak” (crazy) during the May 2010 presidential campaign. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe