Noy on Poe as VP bet: It’s Mar’s call now

MANILA, Philippines - It is now up to Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II to talk with independent Sen. Grace Poe to be his running mate in the 2016 elections, President Aquino said yesterday.

“We are just serving as a support here,” Aquino said in Filipino, implying that he has done his part in endorsing Roxas as the Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer.

The Palace was being pressed to answer if it has a deadline or timeline in waiting for Poe to make a decision on the offer of Roxas to be his vice president.

The President told reporters that the LP is not running out of time to choose Roxas’ partner. 

“At the end of the day, the election is still in May and there is plenty of time to introduce whoever the running mate of Secretary Mar (is),” Aquino said in an ambush interview after he visited officials and members of his communications team at the New Executive Building.

“We will be able to finish everything needed to be discussed (before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October),” he said.

“I think we have all said our respective views. We have said it already, the lines are still open but there is no formal meeting (set),” Aquino said.

Aquino is right now looking at two candidates to replace Roxas as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

He said he asked Roxas to finish all his assignments the soonest time possible.

“We don’t want the transition to happen (right away) because the projects will again be delayed, especially on (relocation of) informal settlers,” Aquino said.

The President would not say whether the two were from LP because they might feel more pressured.

Meanwhile, a long-time political observer and analyst believes that Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo is the best choice of the LP as its candidate for vice president.

“Not only will she boost the chances of Secretary Roxas, but also beat everyone else she will be up against,” Sen. Sergio Osmeña III said.

Osmeña said Robredo, if packaged properly, would be unbeatable as a vice presidential candidate, unless Senator Poe opts to run for the same position. – With Marvin Sy, Cecille Suerte Felipe