Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – As the Liberal Party’s (LP) chairman, President Benigno Aquino III has not given up on Sen. Grace Poe just yet.
During the Meet Inquirer Multimedia forum held in Makati on Tuesday (September 8), the president said he was still hoping that Sen. Grace Poe would choose to run with Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, LP presidential standard bearer for the 2016 elections.
“At the end of the filing period I don’t think we are giving up. Iba pa rin yung we get united,” Aquino said.
Amid calls by some LP leaders and members to choose someone else instead, the president said he was “hoping there is less division in forces allied to Daang Matuwid.”
Both Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. – co-vice chairmen of the LP – have suggested Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano from the Nacionalista Party (NP), which is part of the administration coalition.
Asked why he chose Roxas over Poe, Aquino said: “Experience. I think I stated it categorically when I endorsed him. Mahaba service nya.”
He added that, while Poe appeared to be walking on the same path of Daang Matuwid, track record would be equally important.
“As far as Grace Poe is concerned, fellow traveler [of] daang matuwid. Is she as prepared as Mar? I don’t think anyone can argue if she is as prepared as Mar at this point in time,” Aquino said.
The president added that the recent announcement of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte not to run for president in the 2016 elections would give Roxas a bigger chance of winning.
Related: Duterte not running because of family, eyes retirement from politics
“Enhanced I guess [ang] pagtakbo ni Mar. I think he is allied with us,” Aquino said, pertaining to Duterte possibly endorsing Roxas.
Aquino, however, said nothing could set in stone until he coudl talk to Duterte personally.
