Poe: Palace dinner did not tackle 2016 elections

Senator Grace Poe (Photo from Poe’s official Facebook page)

MANILA – According to Senator Grace Poe, the dinner hosted by President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III at Bahay Pangarap did not include discussions on whom among her, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II will be endorsed by Aquino as his preferred presidential candidate in next year’s national elections.

“Those details were not discussed,” Poe said in a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, adding that Aquino wanted to meet with them again sometime next week preferably before he delivers his last State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Roxas, on the other hand, declined to disclose any detail regarding the six-hourlong dinner.

“I will not [talk about it],” he told reporters after visiting a wake.

Poe has topped the latest presidential preferences surveys, Roxas has been considered the presumptive standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), and Escudero has also been seen as a potential presidential candidate in the coming national elections.

Closer to choosing successor

Aquino, for his part, announced that he will make his endorsement after his last SONA. After the six-hourlong dinner last Wednesday, the President admitted being ‘closer’ to choosing his preferred successor.

“I think the best that I can say at this point, this minute, is I am closer to that point,” Aquino told reporters after leading the Philippine National Police (PNP) turnover ceremonies yesterday.

“Success can be measured by your ability to train your successor or to name your successor or to choose your successor… There were many who could pursue our reform program and that’s why we are happy,” he added, mentioning that the dinner also included top government officials.

Aquino disclosed that they had a long discussion which ended past midnight. He recalled looking back in the past five years and the improvement the Philippines has had.

“All the parties that were there agreed that a lot of changes have happened in our society, in our country during the past five years. And because the transformation has been good, there is a need to sustain them,” he said.

Aquino confirmed Poe’s statement that he would meet with them again sometime next week. In choosing his preferred presidential candidate whom his administration would support, the President stated that he will not limit himself in making the choice but would consider everyone who has potential to lead the country.

“We are trying to unite them. I’m a member of the Liberal Party, but I also represent other sectors. There are peoples’ organizations and civil society organizations. I’ve never been a dictator,” he said.