Roxas confirms Wednesday dinner with Aquino, Poe, Escudero

INTERIOR Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. FILE PHOTO

INTERIOR Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II confirmed that he will have dinner with President Benigno Aquino III and Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday night.

“Yes, the President invited me for dinner later this evening. He said he also invited Senator Poe and Senator Escudero,” Roxas said in an ambush interview at a disaster risk reduction and management event in Malabon City.

Roxas said he was not sure if the President invited others aside from him and the senators.

Inquirer earlier reported that President Aquino will have a casual dinner with all three national figures expected to run in the 2016 elections for president and vice president.

The dinner is said to be crucial in helping Aquino choose the Liberal Party’s standard-bearer.

Asked what could possibly be the reason why the President invited the three of them to dinner, Roxas said: “Well, una ang pangulo ang nag-imbita. Palagay ko ay may pakay siya.”

He said his “sole interest” is to continue Aquino’s straight path and the programs the President started.

“Para sa akin, interesado akong makibahagi dahil napakahalaga po nitong daang matuwid na ito at lahat ng kilos ay dapat nating gawin para nga mabuo lahat ng pwersa na nais magpatuloy ng daang matuwid na ito,” he added.

Before meeting with the President, Roxas attended the retirement honors for National Capital Region Police Office chief Police Director Carmelo Valmoria at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary is touted as the standard-bearer of the Liberal Party. But with the President meeting with Poe, it opens the possibility of Aquino endorsing either Poe or Roxas for presidency.

Aquino had earlier met with Poe. This was followed by a second meeting with Escudero when the President asked the senators to “keep the coalition intact” and support a common bet in 2016.