Aquino still hopes Grace, Chiz will join ‘unified’ LP ticket for 2016

Senator Grace Poe and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

President Benigno Aquino III is still hopeful that Senator Grace Poe and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero would join the administration coalition for the 2016 polls.

Speaking to reporters during the 111th anniversary of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Aquino emphasized the importance of a unified ticket to sustain the gains made during his administration.

“We are still hoping. We still want to have that very unified group that will preserve the coalition as much as possible that can ensure the victory of the agenda,” Aquino said.

He warned that a division in the coalition might endanger everything that his “straight path” policy had gained in the last five years.

“Palagay namin na ang majority ay sang-ayon sa amin pero kapag naghati tayo nang naghati, baka maging manipis na manipis na ang lamang. At doon maging malabo na ang lahat ng pinaghirapan natin (I think the majority agrees with us. But if divide the coalition, we might have a slim lead and everything we worked hard for will be put to waste.)” the President said.

Aquino said that he would take part in the selection process to choose the running mate of Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and that other personalities were being considered.

“Until matapos ang filing ng certificates of candidacy, wala pa tayong puwedeng pag-usapang tapos,” (Until the filing of certificates of candidacy is over, we can’t say anything definite) he said.

The President has hosted several meetings with Poe and Escudero in the hope of wooing them to join the administration coalition.

However, the senators have not yet declared their plans for the upcoming elections.

Last Friday, Aquino endorsed Roxas to be the administration’s presidential candidate in 2016.