No possibility for Roxas to be Poe’s running mate

There’s no stopping him now.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who was handpicked by President Aquino as the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party (LP) in the 2016 general elections, on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of being the running mate of Sen. Grace Poe.

In an exclusive interview with the Inquirer, Roxas maintained that he went through the process of selection for the LP standard-bearer and that he did not ask for anything in exchange for his decision to give way to Aquino during the 2010 presidential election.

“What else could there be? The task to continue the ‘straight path’ has been passed on to me,” Roxas replied when asked if it was the presidency or nothing for him in the next year’s polls.

As to the possibility of him sliding down again, he said: “How will I even receive that question? The President tells you, ‘Please, here’s my flag, carry it on.’ Am I going to give this up?”

Honored, humbled

“I’m honored and humbled to be passed the torch from somebody whom I admire very much, somebody who has done so much for our country,” he added.

This early, Roxas’ second shot at the presidency had been slowed down by various issues, including his dismal showing in the recent voters’ preference for President.

But he remained optimistic that Filipino voters would be mature enough to put the interest of the country above their personal biases.

Despite the criticisms, Roxas insisted that the Aquino administration’s achievements in the past five years “have taken our country to heights that it has not experienced in at least two generations.”

“I will continue the fight for the straight path. As I have said, I will give it my all. This is a fight worth fighting. It’s a fight for the dreams and the future of 100 million Filipinos,” he said.

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice said it would be “illogical” for Roxas to serve as Poe’s running mate.

“That’s illogical because we choose on the parameters of integrity, competence and experience,” Erice said.

“We had no doubt about the integrity of Senator Poe. But I personally think that she needs more experience to run a country like Mar Roxas,” he added.

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