President Aquino declares LP unfazed of Poe’s 2016 presidential bid

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Senator Grace Poe’s formal announcement of her 2016 presidential bid plans has not, in any way, caused worry on the ruling Liberal Party, according to President Benigno Aquino III, the party’s chairman.

“Worried? Why should we be worried of her announcing her plans? We would like to hear what she says,” Aquino said in a press conference shortly after the inauguration of the Iloilo Convention Center on Monday.

The Liberal Party stands on a particular platform, said Aquino. “We’re moving away from personality politics to platform politics. Whatever her announcement is, we still advocate governance based on a specific platform rather than just the personality,” he added.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, LP’s vice chairman, shared Aquino’s pronouncement. “I read in some news report today that Senator Poe is set to announce her candidacy on September 16. That’s according to media reports. If indeed true, that validates my assertion before that the LP should start looking for a vice president, because Poe has decided to run for president. Therefore, we should intensify our efforts to look for a partner for Secretary Roxas,” he said.

Drilon said the LP has not been worried that Poe’s reported presidential bid might split the administration’s supporters. “No. We are not worried. From the very start I have always said that we strengthen our candidate, rather than rely on strength of any other person. There is no change in plan. We will continue to build Roxas,” he added.

Aquino also said he could not yet speak if the LP has narrowed down its choices for Roxas’s possible running mate, namely, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and Representative Leni Robredo of Camarines Sur.

“But we do have criteria. At the end of the day, our standard bearer will have the biggest say as to who he wants as his running mate,” the president told the media.

According to reports, Poe will formally announce on September 16 at the University of the Philippines-Diliman her decision for the 2016 elections on September 16, possibly including the declaration of Senator Francis Escudero as her running mate.