Poe: Roxas camp sending feelers to talk

Senator Grace Poe. FILE PHOTO

Sen. Grace Poe on Monday said a meeting between her and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the administration’s candidate for president next year, was being arranged but no date has been set.

Poe said someone from Roxas’ camp approached her to ask that they meet.

“We have not yet set a date for the meeting,” Poe told reporters.

She reiterated that she was open to a meeting with Roxas as she considered him a friend.

Poe has been topping Roxas in presidential preference polls. President Aquino and Roxas had tried to talk her into running in the ticket with Roxas, obviously to boost his stock, to no avail.

Asked if she was waiting for the results of the next survey on presidential aspirants in September before making her decision to run for the highest office or not, Poe said she would be basing her decision on the reactions to the platform of government she will present to the people.

“And, of course, I continue to consult and pray,” she added.

Meanwhile, a key administration ally believes Roxas is going too far in his pursuit of the presidency by targeting even the spouses of House members.

Batangas Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, head of the Nationalist People’s Coalition bloc in Congress, criticized Roxas for not sparing the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc. (CSFI) from his “all-out campaign.”

Roxas’ mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, has invited CSFI members to a luncheon at Gloria Maris restaurant at the Araneta Gateway Mall in Quezon City on Aug. 12.

“I don’t think they are hiding their intentions anymore. It appears nothing will be spared in their effort to get Mar elected,” Mendoza said.

He pointed out the CSFI was a nonstock, nonprofit foundation which should not be used for political purposes.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga of the National Unity Party, however, does not see anything wrong with Roxas meeting with the CSFI members.

He said his wife received an invitation to the event and he expected her to attend.