Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II is willing to wait for Sen. Grace Poe but, at the same time, he has other important obligations, such as field a formidable administration ticket for the 2016 elections.
“Siya ’yung ating inanyayahan, nirerespeto natin ’yan,” Roxas said when asked if he was holding out for Poe during the commemoration of the third death anniversary of former Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo in Naga City, Camarines Sur, on Tuesday.
But he continued: “Gayunpaman ay may tungkulin ako sa coalition, sa Pangulo, sa lahat na naniniwala sa daang matuwid, na magbuklod ng isang malakas na ticket, malakas na kandidatura para nga ipagpatuloy natin, para ipaglaban natin itong daang matuwid.”
President Benigno Aquino III has tapped Roxas to lead the ruling Liberal Party in the elections. The party is eyeing Poe, who has been leading presidential polls, to be Roxas’ running mate.
“Malinaw na malinaw ang batayan na inilatag ng Pangulo sa kanyang pag-endorso sa atin, sa ating ticket. Bilang pagbigay-galang dito, obligasyon din po natin na bumuo ng malakas na tiket at presentasyon sa ating mga kababayan kung papaano pa natin didipensahan ang daang matuwid,” Roxas said.
However, Poe earlier said she preferred to run with long-time friend Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Poe and Escudero are set to meet anew with members of Nationalist People’s Coalition, which has been pushing for a Poe-Escudero tandem, at the NPC clubhouse in New Manila, Quezon City, later at 7 p.m. Julliane Love de Jesus/RC
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