Grace Poe: Aquino backing of Roxas expected

SENATOR  Grace  Poe on Monday expressed no surprise at reports that President Benigno Aquino III has declared that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas would remain as his top choice to succeed him.

“That is to be expected  because Secretary Mar is their party mate,”  Poe said in a text message when sought for comment on  President Benigno Aquino III’s  statement that  Roxas  remained  to be his  top choice for president in 2016.

Before this,   Aquino and Poe  met to discuss a possible alliance in the upcoming elections.  The meeting  sparked  speculations  that the neophyte  senator was being  considered to be the LP’s  bet or a possible  running mate of  Roxas in the 2016 elections.

READ: Aquino admits meeting with Poe to discuss 2016 plans

Both Poe and Roxas  though have yet to make  a public declaration  about their  plans  in 2016.

Asked  if she  would still sit down with the President to discuss  the 2016 polls, Poe said: “The President and  I have not met since the time we last  met before he left for Chicago.”

Also sought for comment on the President’s remark, Senate  President  Franklin Drilon told reporters to just wait for  Aquino’s  endorsement  after  his last  state of  the nation address (Sona) in July.

“Di ba the  President said we will endorse after Sona? So let’s wait for that,” Drilon,  LP vice chair, said.

Asked if  Aquino should have been more categorical in endorsing Roxas,   the Senate leader simply said: “I leave  it to the President.”

Drilon earlier called on Roxas to declare whether or not he would  join the presidential race  next year. AC

READ: Roxas should declare his presidential bid now—Drilon