Lawmakers urge Roxas to consider Belmonte for VP

MANILA, Philippines - Some congressmen are urging Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II to consider Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. as his running mate.

Palawan Rep. Douglas Hagedorn said the LP standard-bearer should include Belmonte in his field of choices for running mate as the Speaker “is one of the most qualified potential candidates for the vice presidency.”

“As Quezon City mayor, he successfully steered the bankrupt city into one of the most progressive areas in the country. Before he became mayor, the city was debt-ridden. Now, it is earning more than P10 billion annually,” he said.

He said Belmonte also successfully headed the Government Service Insurance System and Philippine Airlines.

“Another advantage for him is his being a multiple-term lawmaker and Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is not only a competent leader and manager, but also an experienced legislator,” he added.

Hagedorn pointed out that like Roxas, Belmonte has integrity and competence and fits the daang matuwid of President Aquino.

Reps. Miro Quimbo of Marikina and Jesus Eleandro Madrona of Romblon voiced support for Hagedorn’s call.

“Speaker SB would be a great choice for vice president. I think he would give Sen. Chiz (Francis Escudero) and other vice presidential aspirants a run for their money,” Quimbo said.

He said his House boss has consistently supported Aquino’s core good governance policy.

Madrona, who heads the committee that manages House finances, said Belmonte is a fair leader who believes in consensus.

“He treats all members of the House fairly. He uses the funds of the chamber prudently,” he said.

Hagedorn said he is not sure if the Speaker would accept the challenge of becoming Roxas’ running mate.

“I hope he does,” he said.

In previous interviews, Belmonte said he was not interested in the presidency or the vice presidency.

He has endorsed Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano to be Roxas’ vice presidential candidate, describing him as a “fighter.”

“Alan is a fighter… And there are too many polite guys here (in Philippine politics). We need someone like that,” Belmonte said.

He also said Aquino should leave the choice of the LP vice presidential candidate to Roxas.

Roxas has reportedly offered the vice presidential slot to Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo largely because she is Aquino’s choice.

Robredo has said she is not interested in the vice presidency and that taking care of her children is her first priority. Her three children are opposed to her seeking higher office.

Like Belmonte, several LP leaders are rooting for Cayetano, who belongs to the Nacionalista Party.

“If we get Alan and we draft (Las Piñas congressman) Mark Villar, we will get the support of the Nacionalista Party (NP),” one LP leader said.

Villar’s father, former senator Manuel Villar Jr., heads NP.