Roxas agrees on need for common bet among Aquino allies

Sen. Grace Poe, DILG Sec. Mar Roxas and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday said that like President Benigno Aquino III, he believes Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero should keep the coalition intact in the 2016 elections.

“Aba’y dapat lamang. Dahil kami naman, ang mga nasa daang matuwid ay isinusulong natin ang katatagan at ipinaglaban natin na kung walang kurap, walang mahirap,” Roxas said when asked about Poe and Escudero’s meeting with the President on Thursday evening where they discussed the need for a single standard bearer and a solid coalition.

(Of course. Because we, those in the straight path are pushing for stability and we continue to fight for the principle that if there are no corrupt individuals, there is no poverty.)

At the sidelines of the distribution of patrol jeeps at the Batangas Provincial Capitol, Roxas said that the Aquino administration has achieved a lot already and it is only fitting that they continue governing with honesty and concern for the people.

Although none of them have officially announced their intention to run in the 2016 election, Roxas, Poe and Escudero are among the top presidential candidates for the next elections.

On Thursday afternoon, Aquino met with Escudero and Poe to ask them to have a unified stand by supporting a common presidential candidate in the upcoming elections.

Aquino also requested Poe and Escudero to meet with Roxas.

When asked what could be the topic of their meeting with Aquino, Roxas said they have not received any instructions yet from the President.

However, he said he will have lunch with the president on Friday.

It wasn’t discussed in the meeting if Aquino asked Poe, who’s been leading the presidential survey, to give way to Roxas, who is a Liberal Party stalwart.

Poe had earlier said that she is “more comfortable” teaming up with Escudero if she would decide to run in 2016. Escudero was the spokesman of Poe’s father, the late Fernando Poe Jr., during the 2004 presidential race.

Members of the ruling Liberal Party have been expressing their support for the Department of Interior and Local Government secretary in his possible presidential bid. KS