Liberal Party wants Roxas to run for Senate

The Liberal Party (LP) urged former senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to run for a Senate seat again in 2019, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday, April 24. (Photo: Mar Roxas/Facebook)

The Liberal Party (LP) is urging former senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to run for a Senate seat again in 2019, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday, April 24.

“We are suggesting to him to consider it but candidacy is a personal decision. But yes, we are suggesting to him to take a good look at it,” Drilon, LP vice chair, told reporters.

But according to him, Roxas has not yet decided about it as he is “enjoying his private life.”

The senator added that the upper house “certainly” needs someone like Roxas, who is “extremely qualified” for the position.

“We confirm that we have asked him to consider. That is a personal decision for Senator Mar,” he stressed.

Roxas, who served in the Senate from 2004 to 2010, was the LP’s standard bearer in the last May 2016 but lost to then Davao City Mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte.

Responding to the recommendation, Roxas said he is currently focusing on his family and his mother because he owes them a lot.

Aside from the former ruling party, Senator Paolo Benigo “Bam”Aquino earlier said certain groups also want the defeated presidential candidate to run for senator next year.

“Hindi pa kami nag-uusap tungkol dito, hindi ko pa rin alam pero alam ko may mga grupong inuudyok siyang tumakbo (We have not yet talked about it, I still don’t know but there are groups urging him to run),” Aquino stressed.

Drilon said that they are still in the process of reviewing a possible list of candidates; however, he was not at liberty to make an announcement.

“Personally, I am realistic that it is not easy to complete a 12-man slate at this point. Let’s leave it at that and let’s see what happens in the next several months,” he said.

“So far we are working on a slate. It’s not easy being in the opposition and it’s a mid-term election. These are the challenges that we face,” he added.