Roxas gives heads up to Poe after VP invitation on TV

Video by Noy Morcoso

After Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II invited Senator Grace Poe to be his running mate in the 2016 elections, he sent Poe a text message informing her of his pronouncement on national television.

Roxas said he wanted it to come from him, rather than Poe hearing it from rumors.

READ: Mar Roxas asks Grace Poe to be his VP on national TV

“I just gave her a heads up na, ‘Hi, Sen. Grace, tinanong ako sa Unang Hirit tungkol dito at ito ang sinabi ko para at least hindi marinig sa pangiintriga o sa hindi tamang pagkuwento,'” Roxas told reporters at the sidelines of Angklas Partylist’s event in Navotas City where the secretary was a guest speaker.

Although they have not discussed yet when to talk over Roxas’ proposal, he said he was expecting that his meeting with Poe would be scheduled soon.

“Sinagot naman niya ako na ‘yung kanyang comment was konektado nga sa mga katanungan na tinanong sa kanya. So okay lang,” he said.

Stressing his earlier statement during his live guesting on GMA’s Unang Hirit, Roxas said, contrary to Poe’s claim, he had already asked Poe to partner with him as his Vice President.

But at that time, Roxas has not been endorsed yet by President Aquino as the ruling party’s standard-bearer so it wasn’t “official” yet.

“Bagaman hindi pa ako naendorso ni Pangulo noong kapanahunan na iyon kaya minarapat na hindi muna opisyal,” he said.

The LP’s presidential bet said their party is open to Poe’s candidacy for vice president, adding that the President wants to “join forces” with those who want to pursue his “daang matuwid (straight path).”

Poe told the media that she has not spoken with the secretary prior to his invitation.

She did not categorically answer if she’s accepting Roxas’ proposal but Poe said she is “open to meet Secretary Roxas as a friend.”

Sought for a comment on Poe’s statement, Roxas said: “With all due respect, we have a direct line of communication. I will not receive messages mailboxes so I’ll just wait for it.”