President Benigno S. Aquino III accepts the credentials of Kingdom of Thailand Ambassador to the PhilipPresident Thanatip Upatising during the presentation of credentials at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace on Thursday (May 21). (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – President Benigno Aquino III on Monday revealed that Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is “on top of the list” of his choices for his preferred presidential bets for the 2016 polls.
In an interview with reporters after inspecting classrooms in Marikina, Aquino described Roxas as a “valuable” Cabinet official and a leader of the ruling Liberal Party.
The President also pointed out that Roxas showed his “ability to sacrifice” when he gave way to Aquino’s presidential candidacy in 2010.
“He [Roxas] has demonstrated quite a wide range of expertise in so many different assignments,” Aquino said. “All of these traits should point out that he is, to my mind, as far as our coalition is concerned, he is at the top of the list,.”
LP leaders have consistently identified Roxas as their standard-bearer for the 2016 polls, despite him lagging behind pre-election presidential popularity polls.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, the opposition’s presumptive standard-bearer, and Senator Grace Poe remain as top choices in these surveys.
Aquino recently met with Poe to discuss a possible alliance for the 2016 polls. The President said he is open to the possibility of Poe running in tandem with Roxas.
The President declined to answer when asked to choose if he is more inclined to support a Roxas-Poe or a Poe-Roxas tandem.
Aquino, who chairs the LP, further said that he may have to push back his announcement of his preferred successor to July to be able to conduct more consultations.
“There might be a little more delay when we announce, probably after the SONA [State of the Nation Address]… We just want this dialogue to be as thorough and encompassing as possible with all the sectors that are involved in the coalition,” he said.
Aquino had earlier said he is planning to announce his presidential bet by end-June. (MNS)