Aquino endorses Roxas

After months of waiting, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino finally decided to announce his endorsement of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas as the administration/Liberal Party (LP) candidate for president at the Club Filipino yesterday.

In his July 27 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Aquino made it clear that he prefers his successor to continue his “Daang Matuwid” campaign, an administration program that emphasizes a strong anti-corruption campaign agenda, as it showed in his presidential anointment for Roxas to be the standard-bearer of the LP-led coalition.

There was rejoicing in three camps. First, in the hardcore LP ranks, the majority of whom were for Roxas. Second, in the Binay camp as they considered Roxas as easy to beat as he did in 2010. Third, even the Grace Poe camp as they also considered Roxas as a weak, beatable candidate.

The anointment of Roxas as the LP candidate assured a three or even four-cornered fight for the presidency, which political analysts say increased Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay’s chance of winning.

With the non-anointment of Senator Grace Poe as Pinoy’s candidate, some observers are predicting lower ranking for her in the next surveys.

The main issue against Roxas is that he is elitist, a haciendero, and does not connect with the masses. Recall that he tried to sell himself as “Mr. Palengke” which did not catch fire when he ran for vice president. He also tried to sell himself as a tricycle driver which again didn’t catch fire.

In 2010, then Makati Vice-Mayor Binay upset Secretary Roxas in their vice presidential contest.

After five years as Vice President and Cabinet member, and visiting cities and towns nationwide, Vice-President Binay is more prepared for the 2016 elections compared to 2010.

Unlike Binay, Roxas hardly went to provincial sorties to project his political aspirations.

Secretary Roxas is depending on his DILG projects to increase his popularity. In short, Roxas becomes the new center of political gravity.

Majority of the 133 Liberal congressmen are expected to support him.

Vice presidential race

The attention now shifts to the choice of vice president for the presidential candidates.

There is still no clear favorite for Mar Roxas’s vice president partner. Now that Grace Poe has turned down President Aquino’s offer to be Roxas’ running mate. LP leaders are still hoping Senator Poe would change her mind.

The same is true for Vice President Binay who has indicated no preference yet for a running mate. Political analysts suggest Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as a good vice presidential bet for Binay to capture the Ilocano vote.

The Grace Poe-Chiz Escudero team up is firmed up. Also considered vice presidential candidates or possibilities are Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Ping Lacson; Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos. Also mentioned are Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, Secretary Francis Pangilinan, and Speaker Sonny Belmonte.

Mayor Duterte has consistently said he is not running for national office. But there are still two and half months to go before the filing of certificate of candidacy on October 12-16, 2015. Anything can happen. Even Poe and Escudero have said they will decide by September, even October.

No Yolanda releases

President Aquino has failed to live up to his promise made two years ago to rehabilitate areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Social Watch convenor Leonor Briones decried the slow releases of funds to complete Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction projects.

Romualdez also pointed out that there is no clear funding sources in the 2016 budget for the Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (CRRP). It was only on October 29, 2014 that President Aquino approved the P168-billion CRRP fund.

Most delayed are housing and resettlement projects for victims of Yolanda, with some victims still living in tents.

Romualdez reported that only P47 billion of the P168 billion CRRP budget has been released.

Budget officials have not even identified the sources of funds for the master plan of P168 billion. Romualdez said as he decried that a lot of promises remain unfulfilled.

This is another big failure of the Aquino administration.

Tidbits

Former Maguindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan was fined by the Ombudsman for failure to file his Statement of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

President Aquino did not do the ceremonial entrance to the House Session Hall, saying he was not feeling well. He was coughing several times.

A nine-hour brownout has hit parts of Mindanao, including Zamboanga City.

3 Philippine Army (PA) soldiers died and 13 others were injured in a New People’s Army (NPA) ambush in Kalinga province.

President Aquino did not mention Freedom of Information (FOI) bill as a priority measure in his SONA. He also failed to mention the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) Mamasapano heroes. Also not mentioned is the serious illegal drug problems.

Actress Alma Moreno, Princess Jacel Kiram of the Sultanate of Sulu, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Romualdez, University of the Philippines Professor Harry Roque, and Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal are being considered for the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) senatorial slate.