Palace on Aquino’s anointed one: Now’s not the right time

Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – People have been asking President Benigno Aquino III who he wants to replace him, but as far as Malacañang is concerned, now is not the right time to talk about it.

“Hindi pa po ngayon ang takdang panahon,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said when asked by a radio anchor over state-run dzRB about it.

(Now is not the proper time for that.)

He said it would take a long while before election season starts.

“Napakarami pang inaasikasong programang pangreporma ang ating pamahalaan, at nais ng ating Pangulo na maipatupad ang mga repormang ito,” Coloma said.

(The government is still working on several reform programs and the President would want to ensure that these reforms are implemented.)

He said Aquino wants to focus first on nation-building and economic development instead of engaging in partisan politics.

Last week, Vice President Jejomar Binay led the organizational meeting of his new UNA political party, which was named after the coalition United Nationalist Alliance.

Binay has announced that he will run for president in 2016.

Aquino’s Liberal Party, on the other hand, has yet to announce its standard bearer though the President is said to favor his former running mate Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II.

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