Aquino not endorsing Roxas now
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas: Not for now. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–It’s not Mar Roxas—yet.
While leaders of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) expect the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to be the anointed standard-bearer in the 2016 presidential elections, President Aquino said in an interview with the Inquirer on Tuesday that he would leave the decision to a broad coalition that would support the continuation of his reform agenda.
The President said he would face the LP Friday to make a major speech about “continuity” but that he would not be endorsing any person yet.
“Continuity of the things we are striving for, that it continues. It should not be based on a person. Wala pa (There’s no one yet). I have to emphasize we got here out of a collective effort, we will continue it out of a collective effort. That’s it for now,” Aquino said.
The President said he would like to get a consensus from his party, allies, civil society, nongovernment organizations, urban poor, religious and other sectors on whom to endorse as successor.
“I have to emphasize [this will be a] collective decision, everybody’s decision—party, allies, civil society,” Aquino said when asked if he would endorse Secretary Roxas as expected.
The President said he wanted a broad coalition to support whoever would get the endorsement.
“My style is always a consensus. So there are those who voiced out, ‘We don’t like him, him, her, all of them we don’t like. We like somebody new,’” he said.
But Aquino said he was counting on Roxas and other Cabinet officials to do a good job.
“If we keep doing what is right, that will be the best endorsement for whoever will succeed [me],” Aquino said.
Roxas was widely expected to be Aquino’s pick for 2016 after he sacrificed a plan to run for President in 2010. Then the presumptive LP standard-bearer, Roxas stepped aside to run as Vice President for Aquino whose popularity rose to spectacular heights following the death of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino.
Roxas lost to Jejomar Binay.
Guessing game
Binay’s recent declaration that a faction of the LP wanted him to become the administration candidate also led to a guessing game whether Roxas would still be it.
The President’s sisters and uncles were also reported to be supportive of Binay’s candidacy.
Complicating things for Roxas was a sudden openness expressed by the President to a second term following a row with the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Disbursement Acceleration Program.
LP stalwarts remain supportive of Roxas, led by Senate President Franklin Drilon who said the LP endorsement would be his for the taking. Drilon has said the party has not discussed this however, and that they are still waiting for the President’s decision.
There are others who are concerned about Roxas’ low ratings.
Explaining Roxas’ low ratings, Aquino said: “Every time he appears, all his detractors are ready (with brickbats) before he opens his mouth.”
If Roxas tends to come off as brusque, it could probably be out of a sense of frustration, Aquino said.
In a Pulse Asia survey conducted from June 24 to July 2, Roxas emerged as the choice for President of only 7 percent of the respondents, behind Binay’s 41 percent, Sen. Grace Poe’s 12 percent, and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada’s 9 percent. Roxas had the same ranking as Senators Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and Miriam Defensor-Santiago.
Asked if Roxas had been asking him about his endorsement, Aquino said: “No, no, no. Not at all.”
“I’m very confident that he and the other members of the Cabinet—maybe it’s wrong to say everybody is altruistic—but the vast majority look at ‘I want to be part of this transformation.’ Not that I want to be popular so I will join this transformation,” Aquino said.
Aside from having a broad consensus, the President said an early endorsement would subject the candidate to political attacks.
“Let’s concentrate on the work first, the work will be the greatest endorsement if we succeed,” Aquino said.
The President brushed aside talk about some of his sisters and uncles supporting Binay.
He said his uncle, Agapito ‘Butz’ Aquino, goes a long way with Binay and were both considered for the position of officer in charge of Makati City during the Cory Aquino administration.
Asked if Binay would be among those considered for his endorsement, Aquino said: “We will examine everybody.”
But the President said he was not aware of any LP faction who wanted to adopt Binay as candidate. “Not to my knowledge,” he said.
The President said there were many names being floated as possible administration candidate, including new ones.
“There are a lot, but after that there is the question of winnability and also how do you convince the traditional politicians [to give their support],” Aquino said.
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