Roxas hopes to be 'paracetamol' to Aquino

(Updated 2:07 p.m.) As he took his oath as the new Transportation chief, former senator and defeated vice presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II hopes to act as a "pain reliever" to President Benigno Aquino II. "Inaasahan ko na magiging paracetamol ako," Roxas told reporters after his oath taking in Malacañang administered by Aquino. Aquino earlier admitted that there were some Cabinet members who are a burden to him. Present during the oath taking were Roxas' wife broadcaster Korina Sanchez, son Paolo, mother Judy Araneta-Roxas and cousin Margarita Fores. Roxas is the ruling Liberal Party's president while Aquino is the party's chairman. He has a pending electoral protest against Vice President Jejomar Binay at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal. Immerse with DOTC execs Roxas said he will immerse himself first with the DOTC and meet with the officials of its attached agencies. Among the agencies under the DOTC are the Land Transportation Office, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Light Rail Transit Authority. LTO's Torres On embattled LTO chief Virginia Torres, Roxas said he will deal with her the same way he will deal with other DOTC officers. "I have not met her. I have to start from scratch and make sure that they are able to deliver on their performance," he said. Roxas added that the Department of Justice's investigation on Torres had been submitted to Malacañang and he will allow the latter to decide on it. He also vowed to review the problematic contracts entered into by the DOTC. "Hindi naman tama na lahat ng kontrata na nirereview, yung mga may bahid ng anomalya lang o hindi dumaan sa tamang proseso. Walang dapat ikatakot ang mga foreign investors kung susunod," he said. Among the contracts he is set to review are the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 3 with Philippine International Air Terminal Co., and the Northrail project. The former senator also said he will work to correct the procurement process in the DOTC in order to prevent problematic contracts. Philippine Independence In a press statement, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Roxas’ entry into government comes at an auspicious time as the Makati Business Club (MBC) has pointed out, the government posted a fiscal surplus of P61 million in the first four months of 2011. He noted that Roxas’ oath taking coincides with the 65th anniversary of the recognition of Philippine Independence by the world community. "It is fitting that on the day President Manuel Roxas took his oath as President of the independent Philippines, and raised the Philippine flag to finally fly alone, Manuel Roxas II took his oath as Secretary of Transportation and Communications before President Benigno S. Aquino III," he said. The former President is Roxas’ grandfather. Roxas will be announcing his management team in the DOTC within the next few days, Lacierda said. Aside from Roxas, also sworn into office were Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco; and Felipe Medalla and Alfredo Antonio, monetary board members. — RSJ, GMA News