Manila Times/Makati

President Benigno Aquino 3rd has allowed interior secretary Manuel Mar Roxas 2nd, his chosen standard bearer of the Liberal Party (LP) in next year’s polls, to choose his running mate, according to LP spokesperson and Eastern Samar representative Ben Evardone.
Evardone said that LP was “extremely hopeful” that senator Grace Poe would consider the option of running as Roxas runningmate.
He also said that senator Francis Chiz Escudero was also being considered as another choice.
“Normally, it is the presidential candidate who chooses his runningmate because he has to be comfortable with his buddy,” Evardone said.
“I think we are going to give the option to secretary Mar,” he said.
Evardone said it was possible that Roxas might ask Escudero to run with him since they were coalition partners.
Escudero endorsed Jejomar Binay against Roxas as vice-presidential bet in 2010 elections.
He added that president Aquino wanted to preserve the administration coalition.
The LP spokesman pointed out that Escudero would bring a considerable number of votes to secretary Mar “considering his track record as senator and congressman and a Bicolano”.
Other candidates being considered are secretary Jun Abaya and Camarines Sur representative Leni Robredo.
Asked by reporters if Batangas governor Vilma Santos-Recto is also in the short list, Evardone said: “She is also highly qualified to run for vice-president. Her performance is outstanding also.”
President Aquino earlier met with Roxas, Poe and Escudero for a possible coalition in the 2016 election but no consensus was reached.
It is widely rumoured that Poe and Escudero will run together for president and vice-president, respectively in 2016.
Roxas gave way to Aquino’s own presidential bid in 2010.
Evardone said that as early as the first quarter of 2015, the president had already told Roxas that he would endorse him in the 2016 polls.
The LP spokesman said the party was cognizant of Roxas’ rankings in pre-election surveys, which showed him losing to either Poe or vice-president Jejomar Binay if the presidential elections were held today.
He said the party would face the challenge to capture the Class D and E voters for Roxas. “Most of them are in the countryside,” he said.
Evardone also said Roxas would resign as head of the department of the interior and local government out of delicadeza so he would not be accused of using his position to campaign for president.
“The last time he told us that once he decides to run, he will not stay any minute longer in his office and he will resign the following day. That is what he told us because he does not want to be accused of using his office to advance his political interests,” he said.
Malacanang yesterday said that Roxas will resign his cabinet post.
“Of course, that is a given. He will not stay in office so he won’t be accused of taking advantage of his position. Certainly, he will not do that,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over government-run Radyo ng Bayan.
“What he is actually preparing for is the transition already to whoever will lead the DILG next,” she said.
Valte was referring to senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s call for the resignation of Roxas as interior secretary.
Valte, however, could not confirm who will replace him. Roxas is expected to recommend names for the position.
Valte said Roxas wants to have a smooth transition, especially for the priority projects of the DILG, including the Oplan Lambat Sibat of the Philippine National Police.
Members of the opposition have already called for Roxas’ resignation of Roxas.
Responding to critics of Aquino’s choice of Roxas, Valte said, “As the president said, it only validates the integrity and the hard work of secretary Roxas when all these people use him to prop themselves up.”
She said those groups only try to put others down instead of banking on the merits of their own candidates.
She added that the cabinet members, most of whom were present at the endorsement of Roxas, support the president’s candidate. She said the cabinet knows how professional Roxas is when it comes to work.