LAWMAKERS in the Liberal Party (LP) rejoiced over the latest statement of Senator Grace Poe about her Monday meeting with President Benigno Aquino III.
They apparently read her statement as an agreement to run with LP’s presumptive bet Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, whether as Vice President or President.
“I was hopeful, that like most of us, Senator Grace believed in PNoy; her statement confirmed that she does. This bodes well not just for “Mar-Poe” but more importantly for Daang Matuwid and for our country,” said Quezon City Rep. Jorge “Bolet” Banal. Banal is LP parliamentary caucus deputy chair for National Capital Region.
LP official Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas said Poe is better off to start as vice president. Fresh from her stint as Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chief, Poe topped the senatorial race in 2013.
Treñas said Poe could run as president in the next presidential election in 2022. Treñas is LP parliamentary caucus deputy chair for Visayas.
“We are confident that the President has in mind Mar Roxas as the next leader to usher in the second phase of Daang Matuwid… Grace Poe will serve the country well by being Vice President who will in turn lead us in 2022,” Treñas said.
Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone added that it would be better for Poe, a neophyte senator, to run as Roxas’ vice president first.
“I admire her commitment to work for the betterment of our children’s future. And I also welcome her statement that she will work in whatever capacity. If it means running for VP under Mar Roxas, that is the most desirable option,” Evardone said.
But if it means Poe would become president candidate and Roxas as vice president bet, then “that is also an option as long as it is supported by President Aquino.”
“To me, what is paramount is the interests of the Filipino people and the continuity of daang matuwid,” Evardone said.
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice, meanwhile, said Poe may still be thinking it over if she should run with Roxas or run as independent for president.
“My take is that she is still thinking; I think her idea is to let President Aquino announce his chosen candidate who is presumably Secretary Mar and wait for the surveys. If Mar increases his ratings, probably she will agree but if her ratings will continue to rise then she may opt to gun for the presidency,” Erice said.
The problem, Erice said, may be that Poe’s supporters might criticize the administration’s programs and policies.
Poe met President Aquino for five hours Monday. She said she understood the predicament of the President in choosing his successor in 2016 who will be pitted against Vice President Jejomar Binay.
“The President and I talked for about five hours. I could sense the very difficult position PNoy is in right now. I understand and sympathize with his predicament and situation. I consider him a true and sincere friend and he has my utmost respect,” Poe said in a statement.
“He reiterated his desire for all of us to continue working together & that he believes that, like him, we can & will do what is best for our country. In the end, we both agreed to continue, in whatever capacity, striving and working for our countrymen and for the betterment of our children’s future,” she added.
Aquino is said to be meeting with Poe and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as potential running mates of Roxas, who had been faring poorly in voters preference poll. It is believed Aquino wanted Poe, who led the latest presidential survey, to run as Vice President.