Mar visits kin’s graves to ask for guidance

MANILA, Philippines - As the day of his much-anticipated proclamation as Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer for the 2016 elections neared, Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II spent a quiet moment in prayer before the graves of his father, brother and grandfather at the Manila North Cemetery Wednesday night.

Youth Against Poverty and Corruption party-list Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez, a close friend of Roxas, said she and six other lawmakers visited Roxas at his home in Quezon City to see how he was doing after word came out that he would be endorsed by President Aquino as his chosen successor today.

“We found out that he wanted to visit the graves of his lolo, father and brother at the North Cemetery,” Lopez told reporters.

She was referring to his grandfather and namesake former President Manuel Roxas, his father senator Gerry Roxas Sr. and brother congressman Gerardo Manuel “Dinggoy” Roxas Jr.

She said Roxas himself drove them to the cemetery at around 10:30 p.m. With them were Reps. Francis Gerald Abaya, Jorge Banal, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Dan Fernandez, Barry Gutierrez, Alfred Vargas and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman.

“He spent some solemn time praying and asking his loved ones for guidance and strength,” Lopez said.

“We learned that he really goes to visit the graves during times when he needs to make big and important decisions,” she said.

She said she felt that family was important to Roxas and his friends were there to support him.

After the visit, they proceeded to an eatery where they ate fried rice and eggs at around 1:30 a.m.

Aquino is expected to formally endorse Roxas as the administration’s presidential candidate for next year’s polls at the historic Club Filipino today.

“We expect P-Noy to officially endorse Mar and his endorsement will be supported by leaders of LP and other coalition partners,” Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, an administration stalwart, said.

Is De Lima in?

While declining to confirm her reported inclusion in the senatorial slate of the ruling LP, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday admitted being invited to the party’s meeting this morning at the Club Filipino.

“I was invited and I will attend,” she said in a text message.

De Lima earlier said she was already 80 percent sure of running for senator, but would leave it up to President Aquino and the LP to decide whether to include her in the administration lineup. 

De Lima, who was in the so-called magic 12 in surveys of possible senatorial candidates next year, said she believes that the President – like her – is focused on the tasks at hand in the last year of his term.

She said she still wishes to accomplish many things in the Department of Justice before finally deciding on a possible political career.  – With Edu Punay