Belmonte welcomes Aquino’s decision opening to allies choice of LP standard bearer

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. Photo courtesy of Cong. Regina Ongsiako-Reyes / YesMarinduque.com

MANILA — The Vice Chairman of the Liberal Party (LP) on Wednesday said the decision of President Benigno S. Aquino III to open to their allies the choice of standard bearer is the best move.

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., said that they in the Liberal Party wanted also to scout potential candidates from other political parties like the Nacionalista party (NP); Nationalist People’s Coalition and the National Unity Party (NUP).

LP members would definitely toe-the-line on President Aquino’s choice for his presidential and vice-presidential candidate.

“I say all of the allies here, NPC NUP, NP not only Liberal Party. We have to look around in the ranks of everybody,” Belmonte said in a chance interview.

At the same time, he is certain that President Aquino will not just choose his anointed presidential and vice-presidential candidates without the consensus of the members of the administration party.

“The president will definitely make his decision on the basis of his consultation with LP members without setting aside the people’s best interest. His decision will be based on principled politics,” the House leadership said.

Iloilo Congressman Jerry Trenas on the other hand said that President Aquino’s endorsement in the 2016 presidential polls would have a huge impact on the outcome of the election and his preferred candidate would be definitely someone who can ensure continuity on the various reforms that were carried out by his administration.

Among such reforms, Trenas said, is the president’s unrelenting fight against graft and corruption, which has been one of the hallmarks of his administration along with his success in putting the country’s economy back into shape.

“It’s a no brainer that President Aquino will only endorse candidates who are committed to pursue the reforms that he has started and those who are unblemished from corruption. That is the hallmark of the Pnoy presidency,” Trenas said.

He said that most if not all LP members are hopeful that President Aquino will endorse Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas not only because he is a key leader of LP but also because there is no question about his commitment to make sure that all the gains of the administration will not go to waste.

Marinduque Rep. Regina Reyes agreed that whoever will be the choice of President Aquino for his presidential and vice-presidential candidate will be also the choice of LP members but admitted that she is praying that he would endorse Roxas.

“There’s no question that most if not all of LP will support whoever the president will support. President Aquino’s endorsement power is almost like an appointment because anyone who will be anointed will definitely win in 2016,” Reyes said.

She said that President Aquino’s great success in managing the country’s economy and his courage fighting corruption and the abuses in the judiciary would surely serve as the people’s yardstick in choosing the leader in 2016 and beyond.