Liberal Party eyes Roxas-Poe tandem

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Senator Grace Poe. FILE PHOTOS

A Mar Roxas-Grace Poe tandem in 2016 is now being “seriously considered” by the ruling Liberal Party (LP), according to a key party leader.

A team-up between the far from charismatic interior secretary and the fast-rising neophyte senator would “combine leadership, experience and expertise in governance with mass appeal, honesty and idealism,” said LP secretary general Mel Senen Sarmiento.

“A Roxas-Poe team in 2016 is really worth considering,” said the Western Samar representative.

“They can complement each other in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. Secretary Roxas has a deep experience in governance and has a proven track record as a public servant but he seems to lack the masa appeal of Senator Poe,” Sarmiento said.

Roxas slid to No. 6 among prospective presidential candidate preferences in the latest Pulse Asia survey, while Poe rose to No. 2, behind the front-runner Vice President Jejomar Binay, whose own ratings have been on a steep decline since allegations of corruption and unexplained wealth surfaced in a Senate committee investigation that began last August.

As a result of Poe’s impressive showing in the latest voter preference survey, there has been talk that the LP may tap her to carry its colors in 2016 at the expense of its presumptive standard-bearer, Roxas.

Sentimental choice

But Sarmiento said that Roxas remained the sentimental choice for most LP members because of their personal knowledge of his sacrifices and accomplishments as Mr. Aquino’s “troubleshooter.”

In the 2010 presidential race, Roxas, who was the acknowledged LP standard-bearer, gave way to the vastly more popular then Senator Aquino. He ran for Vice President instead but lost to Binay.

In spite of his low survey numbers, Roxas has “worked really hard to serve the nation and has always excelled in all his endeavors long before he became a favorite target of demolition attacks by political foes,” Sarmiento said.

“He has been a congressman, a senator and a member of the Cabinet in different capacities and has excelled in all these positions. He is one of President’s Aquino’s most reliable troubleshooters in nearly all aspects of governance because he is an outstanding problem-solver,” he said.

“Secretary Roxas will be very effective in managing the nation and in pursuing the reforms and programs that were started by President Aquino while Senator Poe can be the rallying figure for our people to unite and work together in building our nation,” he added.

Training for president

The opportunity to serve as vice president would provide Poe the needed training to prepare for a presidential run in 2022, Sarmiento said.

“I agree with some observations that Senator Poe would be a perfect choice as Secretary Roxas’ running mate because like him, she also shares the vision and the principles of President Aquino and the Liberal Party. They both share the same passion to serve our people and both are unblemished from corruption,” he said.

He said that Roxas has a political machinery that extends even to the smallest barangay and the expertise to effectively run a nation, while Poe has the “charisma and the idealism to inspire unity among our people.”

Potent tandem

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr., a senior LP leader, said the party has not really talked about 2016, but acknowledged that a Roxas-Poe tandem would be “potent.”

“We in the LP have not had any serious discussions re 2016. I think the first order of the day is to select the 2016 standard-bearer and the process to arrive at that choice,” he said in a text message.

“Having said that, and keeping in mind that the main issue in 2016 will be anticorruption and good governance, a Roxas-Poe tandem will be a potent one,” he added.

Noncommittal

Poe yesterday distanced herself from talk that the LP was considering her as a running mate for Roxas in 2016.

Despite her surging survey results, she has maintained her stance of not being interested in running for higher office, and indicated yesterday that it was premature for her to comment.

“I can’t really comment because the LP has not spoken to me about this. All their pronouncements are through media, and Secretary Mar has not publicly announced his plans to run for higher office in 2016,” she said in a text message.

“Anything is possible,” Sen. Ralph Recto, an LP member, said of the prospects of a Roxas-Poe tandem.

President’s endorsement

Otherwise, he said the President’s endorsement would be crucial in 2016.

“The President’s endorsement will carry much weight. The 50-percent global reduction of oil prices will increase purchasing power. The economy will do better in 2015. The President will be riding economic and political tailwind. Whoever he endorses will have the advantage,” he said in a text message.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and other LP senators did not respond when sought for comment.

When she showed up at the LP’s Christmas party in Malacañang on Dec. 3, Poe claimed then she didn’t talk politics with Roxas, the administration’s presumptive standard-bearer.

“2016 was not discussed at all. I was just happy to see many friends from all over the country, who sincerely helped me out in 2013 when I was a new candidate and my chances of making it were quite slim,” she said at the time.

A party member, however, observed that many people did not hesitate to approach her to shake her hand, “notwithstanding the fact that the party’s presumptive candidate was there.”

But even after her ratings surged to 18 percent in the Nov. 14-20 Pulse Asia survey, dislodging Roxas from second place, Poe has remained noncommittal.

“While 2016 is within sight, it can’t compare with the problems we’re facing now. Besides, I have sworn to a job in the Senate. And it’s unfair if I keep peeking into the other side, and then won’t be able to do my job here,” she said last week.

“My answer remains the same: I’m not preparing for that. But I’m thankful for the continued trust in me,” she added.

Sarmiento said the LP would definitely consider forging coalitions with other political parties and independent personalities “especially those already in the majority coalition [who] are known to share the party’s ideals and principles.”

He said such partnerships must be made with people “committed in pursuing the reforms and programs initiated by President Aquino.”

Originally posted: 4:19 PM | Friday, December 19th, 2014

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