What is stopping Noy from choosing standard bearer?

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (February 16, 2015). (Photo by Rey Baniquet / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)

MANILA — President Aquino wants the coalition to remain united.

This is what delays him from choosing the administration’s presidential candidate in the upcoming 2016 elections, according to Majority Leader Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali Gonzales II.

“I suppose the unity of the coalition is important to him (Aquino) and that is what is causing the delay (in endorsing a candidate). How to make his choice have the support of the LP and the coalition partners – that’s the problem,” Gonzales told dzBB.

Aside from the Liberal Party, Gonzales said that  the President also has to consider the coalition members including the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Nacionalista Party, National Unity Party, and other political groups.

These groups aligned with the Liberal Party during the 2013 elections.

“If the President will only consider the LP, then I do suppose he won’t have any difficulty in making a decision – there is only one LP (presidential) candidate,” he said, referring to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

But because he wants the coalition to remain in tact, he is still on the process of choosing the candidate to endorse next year.

He said that Aquino met with Senators Grace Poe and Francis Escudero, who were members of the coalition, but not of LP, more than twice.

The LP stalwart said that the candidate must be acceptable not just to LP but to all the members of the coalition.