Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas (right) wishes Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano good luck as the senator declares his intention to run for vice president in the 2016 elections. INQUIRER PHOTOS
Administration presidential bet and former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Tuesday said he wished Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano good luck, after the latter announced that he would run for vice president in the 2016 elections.
“Well, I wish him good luck. Magkasama kami ni Senator Cayetano sa House of Representatives. Ni-recruit ko siya bilang deputy ko sa pagiging majority leader. I was the majority leader, naging deputy ko siya at I wish him luck,” Roxas told reporters covering the “Liga ng mga Barangay” at Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.
READ: Alan Cayetano: I am running for vice president
The ruling Liberal Party (LP) was reportedly eyeing Cayetano as Roxas’ running mate in next year’s poll, but the senator previously expressed his intention to run with the undecided Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who had asked his supporters for more time for “soul-searching” despite previous declarations that he will not run for president.
READ: Cayetano proposed as Roxas’ VP | With Duterte on his mind, Alan Cayetano says no thanks if LP offers VP
Roxas also denied reports that he turned Cayetano down. “No, there was not a question of turning down. Ganu’n lang.”
Asked about how a possible presidential bid of his friend Duterte would affect his ratings and chances of winning, Roxas said the LP was focused on coming up with a strong ticket in 2016.
“We can only be responsible for what we do, what anybody else does is their own decision. So, tayo nakatutok tayo sa pagbuo ng malakas na tiket at slate at samahan na siyang tutulak sa matuwid na daan na syang isinusulong natin,” Roxas said.
“Huli kaming nag-usap doon sa Davao, at nauunawaan ko rin yung kanyang dinadaanan. Feel ko ’yung sinabi nyang ‘I must do my own soul searching’ dahil lahat naman nahaharap sa ating mga kababayan at gumawa ng kahit papano, isang soul searching kung ano ba talaga ang papasyahin nila,” he added.
READ: Give me time for ‘final soul-searching,’ Duterte asks supporters | Are they pairing up? Roxas reveals details of talk with Duterte
The LP was set to announce its vice presidential bet and senatorial lineup during its party convention at Club Filipino on Wednesday, but it was further delayed to Oct. 5.
The party had wooed poll front-runner Sen. Grace Poe to be Roxas’ running mate, but the senator formally declared that she would run for president last Sept. 16. Roxas also asked Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, but the neophyte lawmaker said the Sept. 30 deadline was a little bit too soon. Yuji Vincent Gonzales/RC
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