BACOLOD CITY, Philippines?The mother of former senator and defeated vice presidential candidate Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II on Thursday belied rumors that there was a gap between her son and President Aquino.

Judy Araneta-Roxas said that the President would even call once in a while if he has a project for her son.

Asked if Mr. Aquino would give her son the Department of Trade and Industry portfolio after a year, Mrs. Roxas said: ?I don?t know if it will be the DTI but I think Noynoy is going to appoint him to a position, but I don?t know what.?

The Roxas matriarch said she was here to meet relatives, friends and supporters in Negros Occidental and the city who, in the last election, gave her son and Mr. Aquino the most number of votes in the province and city.

Mr. Aquino garnered 644,574 votes while Roxas had 706,897 votes in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City in the May 10 polls.

Mrs. Roxas also met with Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. at the provincial capitol in Bacolod City on Thursday to thank him for his support.

?I came to pay my respects to the governor, and the vice governor (Genaro Alvarez) was also there, and to express my gratitude and support for the support given to Mar,? she said.

Roxas lost the vice presidency to Jejomar Binay, but he was okay, Mrs. Roxas said.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Roxas said that as a citizen, she would see what she could do to help others, especially in Negros Occidental where she comes from, through the Gerry Roxas Foundation.