Aquino endorses Roxas as his preferred successor

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, together with Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, at the Ceremonial Distribution of brand new Glock 17 pistols to Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel (Photo from Malacañang Photo Bureau/Benhur Arcayan)

MANILA – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III endorses Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday as his preferred presidential candidate and as the ruling Liberal Party’s (LP) standard-bearer in next year’s national elections.

The President’s long-awaited endorsement will finally be held today at the Club Filipino in San Juan City, the same venue where Roxas has previously announced setting aside his presidential ambitions and giving the LP’s presidential bid to Aquino in the 2010 elections.

With the 2016 presidential elections, Roxas states that if the President ‘passes the ball to me, I will not only dribble it; I will dunk it,’ vowing to continue pursuing the administration’s ‘daang matuwid’ (straight path) type of governance. He, however, has not officially expressed his interest in running for president preceding today’s event.

Among those present in the endorsement are LP members Senate President Franklin Drilon, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice and Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento who have all pledged support to Roxas’ candidacy.

Prior today’s event, Roxas has visited the graves of his grandfather former President Manuel Roxas, who has founded the LP, and his father former Senator Gerardo Roxas, who has served as the LP’s president during his time.

As the head of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Roxas has been able to push forth the creation of the Negros Island Region. Before leading the department, he has been the head of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Roxas has also served as a senator for six years.

Roxas-Poe tandem?

Several weeks before Aquino endorses his preferred successor, he has hosted dinner meetings with Roxas and Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero, starting speculations that the President may anoint Poe instead.

But in a recent interview, the neophyte senator has stated that she has felt like Aquino wanted to ask her to be Roxas’ running-mate, although he did not offer it to her directly.

“It’s pretty clear that Secretary Mar wants to run for the presidency, so the talks that we’ve had were perhaps to be part of that, if I decide to join the team. It will probably be as his vice president,” she said, clarifying that what she was only sure of was that the President wanted to keep the administration coalition intact.

With Poe still not declaring her official political plans for the coming elections, it is still unsure which higher office she would seek or if she would run for a higher office at all.