Aquino still wants Poe as VP bet, seeks coalition unity in 2016

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III expresses his views during the Interview with the Inquirer reporters, editors, and columnists during the Meet the Inquirer Multimedia Forum in Makati on Tuesday 
(Photo from the Malacañang Photo Bureau/Joseph Vidal)

MANILA – With the desire to preserve unity within the administration’s coalition, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III remained hopeful in having Senator Grace Poe as the ruling Liberal Party’s (LP) vice presidential bid.

Should Poe accept the LP’s offer, she would then be the running mate of standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II in next year’s national elections.

But with speculations that Poe would instead seek the country’s highest post, the President noted that he deemed Roxas more experienced in public service than the neophyte senator. This made the former Interior Secretary the administration’s preferred presidential candidate, while Poe was needed to keep divisions among political forces from happening.

“Until the end of the filing period I don’t think we are giving up. It’s still different if we get united,” Aquino said, wanting the continuation of his ‘daang matuwid’ (straight path) type of governance.

“I was asked: are you still holding the doors open for Grace? Yes. Has she accepted? Obviously, not yet. But if not, there are at least two in my mind right now. But one that I’m really pushing for,” he added, admitting that other government officials were being considered for the post if Poe rejects their offer.

While the President did not name his other vice presidential bets, Senate President Franklin Drilon disclosed that the other politicians eyed by LP for the post were Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo and Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Alan Peter Cayetano. – with quotes from the Inquirer Multimedia Forum held on Tuesday, September 8