President Benigno Aquino III (right) Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
To ensure that the country will have a President who will continue his “Straight Path” agenda, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday urged Liberal Party (LP) stalwarts to prioritize the presidential campaign.
“Sa darating na kampanya at ito ay talagang matinding pakiusap, siguro bago ‘yung sarili nating kandidatura ang isipin natin, ang pinakaimportante may Pangulo tayong magpapatuloy ng tuwid na daan,” Aquino told hundreds of LP members gathered for their national convention in Cubao.
(During the coming campaign season, and this is really a big request, perhaps before thinking of our own candidacy, the most important thing is to have a president who will continue the straight path.)
“Pakiusap sa lahat ng kasamahan kung tayo ay talagang naniniwala sa tuwid na daan, ikampanya natin ‘yung ating lider bago muna ‘yung sarili,” he added.
(I ask all members, if you truly believe in the straight path, let us campaign for our leader first before ourselves.)
Aquino said he himself will give his all for the campaign of LP presidential bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
Roxas, according to a recent electoral survey, is in a tight presidential race with Senator Grace Poe and Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Although ranking second to Poe, Roxas received a big boost in the recent survey, which was conducted after he was endorsed by Aquino.
READ: Poe, Roxas elated by SWS survey; VP hits former interior secretary
Clad in the standard yellow LP shirt, Aquino called other LP members “kabaro” and pointed out that they wore the same shirt and believed in the same principles.
The President recalled when he campaigned in 2013, adding that the outcome seemed to favor favorable to the people.
Now, he said, he will remind the people of what his administration has done and what the party can further do.
After emphasizing the need to support the national campaign, he said the people will be better off voting for someone who is sure to continue his reforms.
Aquino presided over the LP convention, which coincided with the last day of the Commission on Election’s schedule for the holding of political conventions.
But instead of coming up with its official slate, the ruling party passed resolutions allowing Roxas to choose his own running mate and senatorial slate.
LP is still waiting for Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo’s decision, which will reportedly be based on her children’s approval.
Robredo is the widow of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash in 2012. After his death, Robredo was urged to run for public office despite the disapproval of her daughters. TVJ