Senator Angara: I’m not a candidate in 2016

Senator Sonny Angara. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/EDWIN BACASMAS

Despite calls for him to run for vice president, Sen. Sonny Angara has said he is not aspiring for any government position in 2016.

Speaking at the sidelines of a persons with disability forum at the US Embassy, Angara, who ran for senator under the ruling administration’s ticket Team P-Noy in 2013, said there had been calls for him to run for vice president in the upcoming elections.

“I don’t think it’s a serious clamor. I tell them, ‘I’m a three-term senator.’ I want to see through my advocacies,” Angara told Inquirer.net.

Angara, whose father former Sen. Edgardo Angara ran for vice president in 1998, said he did not want the vice presidency.

“Wala naman tayong ambisyong maging vice president. My father ran for vice president in 1998. It was a very difficult election,” Angara said.

While President Benigno Aquino III formally endorsed Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II for the presidential post on Friday, the Liberal Party standard-bearer has no running mate yet.

“I congratulate Secretary Mar. I think we should give him a boost in his bid for the presidency,” Angara said.

Asked if he was involved in talks for the vice presidential post, Angara said he was not knowledgeable of the moves to get Roxas a running mate.

“Well ako hindi ako privy sa search for the vice president. I think there are a lot of good candidates out there whether in the Liberal Party or other parties close to the administration,” the senator said.

As for his plans for the upcoming elections, Angara said: “In 2016, I am not a candidate, so nagpapasalamat ako na makakapahinga ako and continue with my advocacies.”

He added: “I think dito sa Senate we can do a lot of change.”