CABINET members of the Aquino administration have the freedom to choose whom to support in the 2016 elections, a Palace spokesman said on Thursday.
Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. issued the statement after being asked whether members of the Cabinet are free to choose their candidates in 2016 even after President Benigno Aquino III has endorsed Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II as the administration’s standard-bearer.
“Siyempre naman ang sagot diyan ay oo. Kilala po natin ang Pangulo. Kahit kailan naman po ay hindi po siya namimilit,” Coloma told reporters in a press briefing.
Asked if the members of the Cabinet are united in supporting Roxas, Coloma said the question was “too general.”
He, however, said that members of the Aquino Cabinet are united in supporting the programs and reforms of the government.
“Ang batid po natin buong-buo ang Gabinete po sa pagsuporta, sa pagpapatuloy ng mga programa ng administrasyon dahil iyan po ang sinumpaan nilang tungkulin,” he said.
On July 31, Aquino endorsed Roxas as the administration’s standard-bearer in 2016. Roxas accepted the challenge and said that he would continue the reforms the Aquino government has started.