INTERIOR Secretary Manuel Mar” Roxas II on Monday said he is ready to “dunk” the ball if President Benigno Aquino III would anoint him as his successor in 2016.
“If the President will pass the ball to me, I will not only dribble it; I will dunk it,” Roxas told reporters in Filipino after the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of Aquino.
Roxas issued the statement when asked by reporters if the commendations given to him by the President during his speech appeared to him as an endorsement for him in next year’s presidential race.
“Dapat lang ipagpatuloy natin ang daang matuwid. Klarong-klaro ang kabutihang naidulot ng tuwid na daan sa ating banda at sa ating mga kababayan. At pursigido ako na gagawin ang lahat para maipagpatuloy. Pupuntos ang daang matuwid,” he said.
Asked if he would resign should he run for 2016 as president, he said, “darating at darating tayo diyan.”
Towards the end of his more than two-hour speech, Aquino commended Roxas for his work in the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), adding that the next president should continue the reforms his administration has started.