Roxas-Poe tandem in 2016 gets backing

MANILA, Philippines - A leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives yesterday expressed support for the proposed team-up of Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II and Sen. Grace Poe in the 2016 elections.

Malacañang, however, is mum about reports that the Liberal Party (LP) is wooing Poe to be the running mate of Roxas, the presumptive presidential candidate of the administration.

Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. of Dasmariñas City in Cavite said “a Roxas-Poe ticket would be the ideal combination in the next presidential vote.”

“With a Roxas-Poe leadership, the foundations for governance, transparency and accountability which President Aquino has laid would be continued,” he added.

Barzaga, one of the representatives of the National Unity Party in the LP-led House coalition, noted that there is no corruption issue against Roxas.

He also said Roxas “has vast experience in legislative and executive work, which is what the country needs in 2016.”

Poe, on the other hand, “who has always stood for the masses and has always been vocal against the failure and abuses of government officials, would definitely be a good vice president,” Barzaga added.

Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, secretary general of LP, also floated the Roxas-Poe team-up, saying that such a partnership “combines leadership, experience and expertise in governance with mass appeal, honesty and idealism.”

“They can complement each other in terms of their strengths and weaknesses. Sec. Roxas has a deep experience in governance and has a proven track record as a public servant but he seems to lack the ‘masa’ appeal of Sen. Poe,” he said.

“Sec. Roxas will be very effective in managing the nation and in pursuing the reforms and programs that were started by President Aquino, while Sen. Poe can be the rallying figure for our people to unite and work together in building our nation,” he added.

Sarmiento noted that it couldn’t be denied that Roxas has worked really hard to serve the nation and has excelled in all his endeavors long before he became a favorite target of demolition attacks by political foes.

He pointed out that Roxas remains the “sentimental choice” for most LP members as their standard-bearer “because of their personal knowledge of his sacrifices and accomplishments as President Aquino’s ‘troubleshooter.’”

“He had been a congressman, a senator and a member of the Cabinet in different capacities and has excelled in all these positions. He is one of President Aquino’s most reliable troubleshooters in nearly all aspects of governance because he is an outstanding problem solver,” he added.

But presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said over dzRB yesterday that President Aquino, LP’s top leader, has not yet made a decision on who to endorse in 2016.

“That is an assessment. But that assessment will be taken up, I suppose, by the (Liberal) Party itself. But insofar as the Palace is concerned, we have not discussed the matter of elections yet,” Lacierda said.

“The President continues to focus on governance. So until such time that the President makes a choice or makes his endorsement public, then we are (not) in a position to say. We have no further comment other than to let the political parties make their own statement,” he added.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who has long ago announced his obsession to become President, has said he is eyeing either businessman Manny Pangilinan or Poe as his vice presidential running mate.

He also said he would run against Poe if the LP fields the neophyte senator as its standard bearer in 2016. – With Aurea Calica