No way will Roxas slide to VP bet of Poe, say LP leaders

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines – Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II will not slide down again to run for vice president should he and Senator Grace Poe become the Liberal Party’s preferred leading tandem in 2016 even if he continues to trail in the presidential surveys.

“In my opinion, it’s very slim,” said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. the LP vice chair, in a text message.

“He’s already determined to run for president. Or else he’d just help,” said Belmonte of Roxas.

Roxas gave up his dream to run for president in 2010 when he gave way to then Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who surged in the presidential surveys a few months after her mother former President Corazon Aquino died and just before the 2010 elections. Roxas slid down to vice president but lost to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Western Samar Rep. and LP secretary general Mel Senen Sarmiento said that even before the party held its national executive conference, the sentiment of a “good majority” of members was toward a Mar-Grace tandem.

Sarmiento said the sentiment was for Roxas to be the standard-bearer with only the vice presidency open to a non-LP member. Poe is an independent but ran as a guest candidate of Team PNoy in 2013.

But Poe was next only to Binay in the latest Pulse Asia survey in which Roxas placed sixth. Binay, who was the campaign manager of the late Fernando Poe Jr. in the 2004 presidential election, is also wooing Grace Poe to be his running mate.

Sarmiento said that while Roxas’ ranking might have suffered, his trust and performance ratings have been improving.

Sarmiento said the LP did not pick Poe only for her good numbers in the surveys but also because of her potential as a government executive.

Caloocan Rep. and LP member Edgar Erice said the surveys would not be the only factor considered by the LP in deciding who its standard bearer for 2016 would be.

“A survey is just one basis but most important is the ICE or integrity, competence and experience (of a candidate). This is the only way that you can ensure continuity of reforms pursued by President Aquino,” said Erice.

Erice said the Mar-Grace tandem was almost a done deal in terms of getting Aquino’s endorsement and the people’s acceptance.