Aquino still undecided on whom to endorse as successor

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (Photo from Aquino’s website)

MANILA – With regards to his anticipated endorsement, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III stated that he still had to finish his ‘consultations’ before formally announcing his chosen presidential candidate in next year’s elections.

Aquino hinted that he could not give the support Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay hoped for as he clarified that the only support he could give to any candidate was a fair and orderly elections.

Aquino also questioned Binay’s expectations as the vice president was a member of a different party and an ally of other groups in previous elections.

“Then come 2016, we will be together? It’s like, it turns out he is coming to us but he took a long detour to get to us,” he said.

Binay, however, still looked forward to a come-from-behind endorsement like the one brought about by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero in the 2010 national elections.

Ebbing Binay’s expectations,  Senate President and Liberal Party (LP) vice chairman Franklin Drilon clarified that Aquino’s endorsement would only be given to an LP member.

Caloocan Representative and LP member Edgar Erice also confirmed that Aquino was not considering Binay among his preferences of candidates to endorse.

With Binay ruled out from the possible endorsed candidate, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II had been speculated as LP’s possible standard-bearer and thus, Aquino’s preferred presidential candidate.

To this, Aquino opted to stay mum and reiterated finishing his consultations first. Aquino earlier stated that he would declare his endorsement after his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) next month.

Aside from Binay and Roxas, Senator Grace Poe was also rumored to be one of Aquino’s choices of candidates to endorse. Aquino and Poe had been holding one-on-one meetings in the past weeks.

The two confirmed the meetings. Poe, however, clarified that she was not offered any position. Aquino, on the other hand, disclosed that they had only talked about the government’s present projects and good governance.

“We had some clarity about perspective … the viewpoints on governance, she agrees. She said we should see eye to eye on what should happen, which is the continuance of the current governance,” Aquino said.

Poe, for her part, stated that she had ‘a lot of things’ to consider before laying out her political plans. She explained that running for a higher post was ‘not an easy decision to make.’