Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Thursday confirmed that many Cabinet members believe Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II would make a good standard bearer for the ruling Liberal Party.
However, he did not directly react to Roxas’ relatively low ranking in the election polls.
“We believe that like what the President said, he’s on the top of his list. He’s also on the top of the list of Butch (Abad),” Lacierda said in a Palace briefing. “Marami sa amin sa Gabinete naniniwala rin na siya ay nasa top of the list—sa list din namin dahil sa aming karanasan working with him (Many of us in the Cabinet believe that he is at the top of the list — our list because of our experience working with him).”
Lacierda pointed out that Roxas has never been accused of corruption.
“There’s not been a whiff of corruption in his long years of service. And so we need honesty, we need a man with honesty and integrity and experience. And we have seen the work of daang matuwid,” he said.
The statement came after Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said that Roxas has the “integrity and competence…to lead the country.” However, he said, “The basic question raised against him is can he win.”
READ: Abad: Roxas is man for the job, but…
President Benigno Aquino III has yet to announce his pick or the LP’s standard bearer for the 2016 elections. Reports said the delay in the announcement was because of Roxas’ poor performance in the pre-election polls. But last month Aquino said Roxas remains “at the top of the list.”
READ: Mar Roxas still Aquino’s top choice as his successor in 2016
The March poll of the Social Weather Stations showed Roxas (15 percent preference) trailing behind Vice President Jejomar Binay (36 percent) and Senator Grace Poe (31 percent).
For the Pulse Asia survey, he was ranked lower, behind Binay, Poe, Manila City Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
READ: Binay still leads Pulse Asia presidential poll; Duterte enters top 5
Lacierda, however, said that people should take into account the fact that Roxas has yet to declare his candidacy.
“So let’s wait for that question to be answered first by Secretary Mar Roxas and then let’s wait and see,” he said.
Lacierda said they are also waiting for Aquino’s announcement.