Drilon denies Binay’s adoption claim, says Roxas still LP bet in 2016

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines  — Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas remains the Liberal Party’s (LP) bet if he decides to run for president in 2016, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday.

“If Senator Mar makes finally his decision, yes, the party will support him,” said Drilon, vice chairman of LP, when asked in a television interview if Roxas is the party’s standard-bearer for now.

When asked again if he believes Roxas still has a fighting chance against Vice President Jejomar Binay who has been constantly topping the presidential surveys, the Senate leader said: “Of course. One week is too long in politics.”

Drilon issued the statements amid Binay’s claim that LP is considering either adopting him or coalescing with the opposition’s United Nationalist Alliance(UNA) to support his presidential bid.

Binay is one of the three leaders of UNA along with former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and detained Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile.

But Drilon denied Binay’s claim.

“All I can say is that the spin masters are having their day. There is no such thing,” he said.

“I am a member of the Executive Committee of the Liberal Party, and there has been no discussion on that. At the end of the day the party will be influenced in its decision by the decision of President Noynoy. The President being the chairman of our Party, would have a great say as to who the standard bearer would be, as to where the Party is going, and at this point there is no such talk,” he added.

Drilon also refused to say whether the LP is open to coalesce with UNA.

“You know, the moment I answer that question I do not know what the headlines will be tomorrow. Given that 2016 is just around the corner, all kinds of intrigues, this will be a rich source of intrigues, so I would rather not respond. Anything is possible under the sun,” he said.

He, however, said that it would be better if the electorate would be given more choices.

“If there is only one candidate, all of us will be in default, people will not forgive us for not presenting to them alternatives which they can choose from,” he said.

Asked then if the LP would have its own bet, Drilon said, “I believe that our system should provide the people with alternative choices. Not LP, LP is just an institution in our democratic system, but our system should allow anyone who feels that he should have the mandate to govern, to present himself to the people.”

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