Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr.: Why the rush? INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Liberal Party (LP) is “befuddled” by Vice President Jejomar Binay’s haste in declaring his bid for the presidency.
“Why the rush?” asked Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., vice chair of Binay’s rival LP.
In an interview, Belmonte said Binay’s official pronouncement 26 months before the 2016 national elections could end up a “tactical error” that rival parties and candidates could exploit.
“I was surprised by his announcement. He is riding high in the surveys and time is on his side. I see no advantages in campaigning this early.
“But we in the LP are just smiling at the way things are turning out. He just forced the hand of his rivals to attack him. Sige kampanya ka nang madulas ka dyan (go on and campaign so you can slip),” quipped Belmonte.
Belmonte said it was no secret that Binay has had his eye on Malacañang since he narrowly beat the LP candidate, now Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, in 2010.
He said Binay’s public declaration of his plans—such as forming a new political party and getting Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao in his senatorial slate—has practically declared it an “open season” to attack the Vice President who will be 74 years old in 2016.
Belmonte said the LP had not yet decided on its presidential candidate even though Roxas has been widely perceived as the standard bearer in 2016.
“This summer break for Congress will give me more time to spend in Malacañang where I can probably pick up some buzz on who our likely candidate will be,” said Belmonte.
LP’s rival, Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), revealed that it was open to supporting Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. of the Nacionalista Party should he decide to seek higher office in 2016.
Leyte Rep. and Lakas-CMD president Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said “all options” were open for his cousin, noting that Marcos could seek reelection or hook up with a potent presidential bet or even go for the top prize.
“If I were in Bongbong’s shoes, my ambition would be to top the elections. If along the way, he becomes a more popular candidate, he can be viewed as a viable candidate for vice president. He (Marcos) could even go for it all as early as 2016 if destiny calls. He just has to do his homework and work hard,” said Romualdez in an interview.