MANILA, Philippines—The Liberal Party may consider outsiders in selecting its standard bearer for the 2016 presidential election, party leaders at the House of Representatives said Tuesday.
“It is possible [to choose from outside the party]. But as much as possible, we’d want to choose from within LP,” said Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, LP’s political affairs chair.
Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, LP secretary general, said LP members would “toe the line,” whatever decision was reached.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice. FILE PHOTO
He expressed confidence that President Benigno Aquino III would anoint a candidate to replace him with the consensus of administration party members.
“The President will definitely make his decision on the basis of his consultation with LP members without setting aside the people’s best interest. His decision will be based on principled politics,” Sarmiento told a forum.
Under its bylaws, the LP can enter into a coalition with other parties, Erice said. “We can choose a coalition candidate. The issue is which parties could join LP,” he said.
Sarmiento said such alliances must be “based on the principles and advocacies of the LP, and should match the position of the LP.”
This would rule out Vice President Jejomar Binay, according to Erice, a known Binay critic.
“As I said before, he (Binay) has different principles. The President said he would choose a replacement who would no doubt continue his ‘tuwid na daan (straight path)’ of governance, not someone who would keep avoiding legitimate issues,” Erice said.
Sarmiento said most party members saw the “dedication” of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the presumptive LP candidate, but he was too “focused on the job” to start talking about 2016.
As for Sen. Grace Poe, Erice said: “Well, she’s very popular. But we’re not only considering popularity, also experience, and principles.”
He said the LP had a very deep bench of prospective senatorial candidates in 2016: reelection-seeking Senators Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto and TG Guingona, former Senators Francis Pangilinan and Panfilo Lacson, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Camarines Sur. Rep. Leni Robredo.
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